Facebook dumps Secret Crush application over spyware claim

This sounds like good news for once, on the spyware and adware front. The full story comes from CNET News:

Good riddance: Facebook has banned the "Secret Crush" application due to reports of its affiliation with a notorious spyware manufacturer. The social-networking site confirmed the breakup on Monday: "Facebook is committed to user safety and security and, to that end, its Terms of Service for developers explicitly state that applications should not use adware and spyware," a statement from the company read. "We have contacted the developers and have disabled the Secret Crush application for violating Facebook Platform Terms of Service."
Lonely Facebook users eager to find which of their friends had the hots for them were served up with the nasty news last week. According to a report from security firm Fortinet, invitations luring members with the message "One of your friends might have a crush on you!" contained a link to software from Zango, a company whose name has become almost synonymous with adware. Upon installing the application, users were informed that they needed to "invite" at least five more friends to Secret Crush before going on, and then were invited to download a "Crush Calculator" application that contained Zango software.
Tragically, duped Facebook members never did get to learn which people on their friends list had crushes on them.

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Microsoft develops employee spyware

What is the world's biggest software company up to lately? Apparently developing its own form of spyware! Here's more from The Inquirer:

Microsoft has decided it would be nifty idea if you wired up your employees and monitored how they were feeling.
According to the Times, the Vole has patented computer software that would allow managers to remotely monitor the wellbeing and productivity of employees.
Under the glorious Volish vision you would be plugged into Vista and have your blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate and facial expression monitored by your boss.
According to the patent, the system can tell if the employee is suffering from any frustration or stress and offer help.

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