Prohibited Spyware
IN Spyware Act
Other · Communications
Indiana's spyware law bars installing software on someone else's computer that deceptively changes browser settings, logs keystrokes, or ties personal information to browsing history. It also bars extracting financial or identity data from the hard drive and tricking users into installing software with false security or privacy claims.
- Where
- Indiana
- Citation
- Ind. Code art. 24-4.8 (IC 24-4.8-1-1 to 24-4.8-3-2)
- Status
- In force
- Last amended
- 2026-07-01
- Enforced by
- Private enforcement by adversely affected software providers, website owners, and trademark owners
- People can sue
- Limited
- Penalties
- Affected software providers, website owners, or trademark owners may sue for an injunction and the greater of actual damages or $100,000 per violation (IC 24-4.8-3-1, 24-4.8-3-2). Individual computer users are not given a cause of action by this article.
- Applies to
- Any person who is not the owner or operator of a computer and knowingly transmits software to it or induces its installation (IC 24-4.8-2-2, 24-4.8-2-3); carriers and software or service providers acting for security, support, maintenance, or authorized updates are excluded (IC 24-4.8-2-1)
Practices it requires
- Do not transmit software that deceptively changes a user's home page, search engine or ISP settings, or bookmarks.IC 24-4.8-2-2(2)(A)
- Do not use deceptively installed software to collect personally identifying information through keystroke logging or by correlating it with the user's browsing history.IC 24-4.8-2-2(2)(B)
- Do not use transmitted software to extract credit card, debit, account, or similar identifying data from a user's hard drive.IC 24-4.8-2-2(2)(C)
- Do not induce installation of software by misrepresenting that it is needed for security, privacy, or viewing content.IC 24-4.8-2-3
- Do not use deceptive means to block a user's efforts to stop or remove software, falsely claim software will be uninstalled, or disable security or antivirus software.IC 24-4.8-2-2(2)(D)-(F)
Sources
- Official text
- Indiana Code 2026, Title 24, Article 4.8 (Indiana General Assembly)
- HEA 1088 (2026), P.L.23-2026, SECTIONS 245-246 (technical amendments), effective July 1, 2026
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: The P.L.115-2005 effective date was not confirmed.
Research reference, not legal advice.