Maker Of Program For Spying On Lovers Indicted

Online Greeting Card Hides Snooping Software

SAN DIEGO -- Tracking online lovers is landing some people in trouble with the law.

The government is charging the creator of a computer program that's designed to help jealous lovers snoop on their sweethearts' online activities with violating federal computer privacy laws.

Several people who bought the program are also facing federal indictments.

The Loverspy program is disguised as an electronic greeting card that shows images of puppies and flowers.

When the person who receives it opens the card, it starts recording the victims' e-mail messages and the Web sites they visit.

Authorities say that information is sent to computers operated by the creator of Loverspy. Then he sends it on to his customers.

The man faces 35 counts of manufacturing, sending and advertising the covert spy tool and unauthorized access to protected computers.

If he's convicted, he could get up to 175 years in prison. Four people who bought the program are facing charges of illegal computer hacking.