robyrob
05-05-2011, 01:51 PM
AP: Pa. lawsuit: Rental firm spies on users (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110503/ap_on_re_us/us_rental_computer_spyware)
By JOE MANDAK, Associated Press Joe Mandak, Associated Press – Tue May 3, 4:05 pm ET
PITTSBURGH – A major furniture rental chain has software on its computers that lets it track the keystrokes, screenshots and even webcam images of customers while they use the devices at home, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Wyoming couple who said they learned about the PC Rental Agent "device and/or software" inside the computer they rented last year when an Aaron's Inc. store manager in Casper came to their home on Dec. 22.
The manager tried to repossess the computer because he mistakenly believed the couple hadn't finished paying for it, the couple said. Brian Byrd, 26, said the manager showed him a picture of Byrd using the computer — taken by the computer's webcam. The image was shot with the help of spying software, which the lawsuit contends is made by North East, Pa.-based Designerware LLC and is installed on all Aaron's rental computers.
"It feels like we were pretty much invaded, like somebody else was in our house," Byrd told The Associated Press in an exclusive telephone interview, the day before the suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Erie. "It's a weird feeling, I can't really describe it. I had to sit down for a minute after he showed me that picture."
The lawsuit says the store manager told the Byrds "that he was not supposed to disclose that Aaron's had the photograph." Byrd said he believes the store manager "was just trying to throw his weight around and get an easy repossession."
"They never explained why they were" taking the webcam photos, Byrd said. "The just walked in trying to be big shots."
David Katz, an attorney at Atlanta-based Aaron's, said he was not familiar with the lawsuit, but was hoping to issue a response after reviewing a copy. The company's website says it has more than 1,500 stores in the United States and Canada ....
... read the rest at Yahoo
absolutely horrible - there are too many companies that think they can just do whatever they want once they've gotten you to sign their agreement or click on the "I Agree" button
By JOE MANDAK, Associated Press Joe Mandak, Associated Press – Tue May 3, 4:05 pm ET
PITTSBURGH – A major furniture rental chain has software on its computers that lets it track the keystrokes, screenshots and even webcam images of customers while they use the devices at home, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of a Wyoming couple who said they learned about the PC Rental Agent "device and/or software" inside the computer they rented last year when an Aaron's Inc. store manager in Casper came to their home on Dec. 22.
The manager tried to repossess the computer because he mistakenly believed the couple hadn't finished paying for it, the couple said. Brian Byrd, 26, said the manager showed him a picture of Byrd using the computer — taken by the computer's webcam. The image was shot with the help of spying software, which the lawsuit contends is made by North East, Pa.-based Designerware LLC and is installed on all Aaron's rental computers.
"It feels like we were pretty much invaded, like somebody else was in our house," Byrd told The Associated Press in an exclusive telephone interview, the day before the suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Erie. "It's a weird feeling, I can't really describe it. I had to sit down for a minute after he showed me that picture."
The lawsuit says the store manager told the Byrds "that he was not supposed to disclose that Aaron's had the photograph." Byrd said he believes the store manager "was just trying to throw his weight around and get an easy repossession."
"They never explained why they were" taking the webcam photos, Byrd said. "The just walked in trying to be big shots."
David Katz, an attorney at Atlanta-based Aaron's, said he was not familiar with the lawsuit, but was hoping to issue a response after reviewing a copy. The company's website says it has more than 1,500 stores in the United States and Canada ....
... read the rest at Yahoo
absolutely horrible - there are too many companies that think they can just do whatever they want once they've gotten you to sign their agreement or click on the "I Agree" button