An operation that allegedly installed illegal spyware on computers will give more than $2 million to settle a U.S. Federal Trade Commission complaint. The FTC has obtained a settlement order against Enternet Media, Conspy & Co, Lida Rohbani, Nima Hakimi, and Baback Hakimi, all based in California, the agency announced. The defendants distributed software called Search Miracle, Miracle Search, EM Toolbar, EliteBar, and Elite Toolbar, the FTC said.
In an order issued by Judge Christine Snyder of the U.S. District Court for Central California, the defendants are prohibited from interfering with computer use, such as distributing software code that tracks Internet activity, changes browser settings, and inserts new advertising toolbars onto browsers. The defendants also are permanently prohibited from making misleading representations regarding the performance, features, and cost of any software, including misrepresenting the code as an Internet browser upgrade, other computer security software, music, a song, lyrics, or a cell phone ring tone.