It's like your annoying neighbor who always seems to just run out of toilet paper. And unless you move out, he's pretty hard to avoid.

With the onslaught of peer-to-peer file sharing and deviant Web sites, spyware has become a huge problem many people face on a daily basis.

Spyware consists of programs that track computer users' private Web site data and usage, sometimes obtaining access to Social Security and credit card numbers.

Pending final approval by the Senate, people inside the United States responsible for installing spyware onto computers without consent could face severe fines and criminal penalties.

It's definitely good that the government recognizes this is a problem, and is doing what it can to protect users of the Internet. With business transactions, governmental information and news Web sites, it's hard to ignore how much the Internet has grown as a tool of our society.

Yet, because of the scope of the border-less World Wide Web, this bill may turn out to be a Band-Aid trying to contain a gushing wound.

Since many Web sites and programs are hosted in different countries, it would be virtually impossible to enforce U.S. laws upon those responsible unless an international law was subsequently passed. Many of these spyware programs originate in other countries, making this bill moot in terms of penalizing all spyware. While the effort to stop the spread of spyware can be applauded, it's unlikely the law would even come close to eliminating it completely.

However, it is possible to track down major hosts, and any creators caught in the United States would make the proposed law beneficial.

Many students already try to block spyware by using such programs as AdAware and SpyBot, but these programs cannot identify every file. While they do a decent job, some programs and files seem to slip through the cracks.

As spyware causes students trouble, it can pose a tremendous financial burden on businesses and universities across the nation that pay to use anti-spyware programs and hire technical support teams to combat the threat. For some students spyware is a nuisance but for businesses that rely on computers, it could make or break its sales. In reality, the proposed law would protect all Internet users, but may end up benefiting large companies the most. While it may limit some corporate spending and reduce spyware, but ultimately it will not have a tremendous impact on protecting users' privacy or eliminating the devastating programs that haunt computers.