Well, looks like the FTC didn't have much luck brainstorming solutions to the growing ADWARE/SPYWARE problem plaguing almost all networked Windows computers. They did point out that some of the biggest problems may be poorly written state laws regulating spyware that actually make ANTI-adware and spyware products illegal...Geez.

How big is the problem? McAfee Security manager Bryson Gordon, whose company sells the McAfee AntiSpyware utility, says his company detected fewer than 2 million adware or spyware products in August 2003. By March 2004, the total number had zoomed to just more than 14 million. It's become "a larger technical support problem than viruses," Gordon said. I know that I usually remove at least 20-30 spywares a week during my routine AD-AWARE run.

That's pretty staggering, though I'd say the difference between spyware/adware and viruses are marginal.

Since almost all spyware or adware targets Windows machines, it may be Microsoft that's best able to deal with the problem. The next Windows XP service pack will feature some LONG overdue updates that should help deal with at least some of the problem. I wonder spyware authors haven't started targeting other operating systems? Seems like the open-source nature of most other browsers would make the job of fashioning parasitical spyware programs particularly efficient.