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12 FOR ACTION...
(J-MO)
EVER RENT A COMPUTER
FROM ONE OF THOSE
RENT-TO-OWN
COMPANIES?
IF SO, THIS STORY MAY
HAVE YOU THINKING TWICE
ABOUT EVER DOING IT
AGAIN.
(MM)
THE F.T.C. CLAIMS
SECRETLY INSTALLED
SOFTWARE ON RENTED
COMPUTERS WERE
SPYING ON CUSTOMERS!
PROBLEM SOLVER SUSAN
HOGAN JOINS US NOW
LIVE WITH WHAT SHE'S
UNCOVERED.
(SH)
THIS IS A STORY THAT
MOVIE'S ARE MADE OF.
RENTED COMPUTERS
WITH SPYWARE ATTACHED
TRACKING YOUR EVERY
MOVE...EVEN AT
TIMES...WATCHING YOU.
COMPUTER CLICKS...
YOU LOG ON..
NEVER THINKING THAT EVERY
CLICK OF THE MOUSE OR
KEYBOARD...IS BEING TRACKED.
i just rented a computer from
them...
BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF
CUSTOMERS WHO RENTED
COMPUTERS FROM RENT-TO-
OWN COMPANIES LIKE
COLORTYME..THEY'RE
LEARNING THEY MAY HAVE
BEEN SPIED ON.
i think it's absurb!
7 RENT TO OWN COMPANIES
AND A SOFTWARE DESIGN FIRM
HAVE AGREED TO SETTLE
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
CHARGES THAT THEY
COLLECTED DATA THAT
ENABLED RENT TO OWN
STORES TO TRACK THE
LOCATION OF RENTED
COMPUTERS WITHOUT THEIR
KNOWLEDGE.
:36-:50
call 12 for action contacted the
franchise owner of this
colortyme in
providence and he admited that 4
years ago he used the spyware in
the computers they rented out
but 2
years ago disabled the program
because he was uncomfortable
with
it.
ACCORDING TO THE F.T.C.
SOME OF THE DATA GATHERED
INCLUDED
-Social Security Numbers
-Medical Records
-Bank Statements
AND IN SOME CASES TAKING
-Webcam Pictures of Children
-Partially Undressed Individuals
-Intimate Activities at Home
THE FTC SAYS THE SOFTWARE
CONTAINED A KILL SWITCH THAT
RENT TO OWN STORES COULD
USE TO DISABLE A COMPUTER IF
IT WAS STOLEN OR IF A RENTER
FAILED TO MAKE PAYMENTS.
1:19-1:28
its my business, my personal
information, they have my
information anyway from renting
from them, they don't need to
spy on
you!
(SH)
THE SETTLEMENT BANS
THE SOFTWARE COMPANY
AND THE RENT-TO-OWN
STORES FROM USING
MONITORING SOFTWARE
AND IT BANS THEM FROM
USING DECEPTION TO
GATHER ANY INFORMATION
FROM ITS CUSTOMERS.
IF YOU HAVE A CONSUMER
PROBLEM YOU NEED HELP
SOLVING - CONTACT OUR
CALL 12 FOR ACTION
CENTER MONDAY THRU
THURSDAY FROM 11 UNTIL
1 - OUR HOTLINE IS 228-
1850.
OR IF YOU'RE INTERESTED
IN BECOMING A CALL 12
FOR ACTION VOLUNTEER...
YOU CAN CALL THAT SAME
NUMBER ON YOUR
SCREEN.
I'M PROBLEM SOLVER
SUSAN HOGAN -
EYEWITNESS NEWS.