Sears faces a potential class action lawsuit following its decision to install tracking software - often referred to as "spyware" - on the computers of at least some consumers who joined the Sears My SHC Community. The spyware monitors and transmits to a market research company - comScore - a copy of all Internet traffic to and from the consumer's computer, including information from secure sessions, which can include information from shopping or banking sites.
Prominent critics of spyware practices have stated that the process of registering for the Sears community does not adequately warn consumers about the spyware or the fact that their Internet activity will be tracked extensively. Once the spyware is installed it works silently, meaning that there is no warning to the user that the spyware is transmitting data from the consumer's computer to comScore.
Because the Sears community requires personal information to join, it is possible that the information tracked by the spyware could be matched to the personal information used to register, including the person's name, address, age and email. This would allow a comprehensive profile identifying both the identity of the individual consumer and his or her Internet activity.
Sears Spyware Articles
Sears Customers Checking Their ComputersCustomers who signed up for the Sears My SHC Community are now checking their computers, trying to determine if they unwittingly allowed Sears to load spyware onto their computersâ"and they want to know how to get rid of it.
Sears Defends Itself Against Spyware Lawsuit
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is defending itself against at least one lawsuit alleging the company violated consumer privacy laws. The lawsuit follows a move by Sears to install tracking software (also known as spyware) on the computers of people who use the MySHC Community. However, critics argue that consumers are not fully aware of when the tracking function is active and were not properly warned that the software was being installed.
Sears Privacy: Spyware is Watching You
Talk about Big Brother watching you. Spyware is something you expect to get from an unsavory web site or an infected emailâ"not from a major retailer. However, that appears to be the case with Sears and Roebuck through their My SHC Community, on-line service.
Sears Spyware In the News
JAN-4-08: A researcher at CA has discovered that Sears' website installs a piece of tracking software developed by ComScore on the machines of some people who join the company's My SHC Community. [SEARCH SECURITY: SEARS SPYWARE]JAN-3-08: Online shoppers who signed up for Sears' My SHC Community this holiday season got a gift that keeps on giving: spyware. [CNET: SEARS SPYWARE]
