Sears online policies draw criticism

CHICAGO, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Two online policies have landed U.S. retailer Sears in hot water with privacy advocates.

Sears' opt-in market research program and its Web site to assist homeowners keep up with their Sears appliance purchases caught the eye of privacy advocates, who have criticized the company for putting so-called spyware on customers' computers when they log on, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday.

The customers agree to be tracked. Sears says it clearly explains to those joining its online community that they are being asked to be tracked for market research.

No information is sold, Sears said of its research program.

A portion of its Web site, ManageMyHome.com, has been closed because of complaints that customers could access one another's personal information very easily, Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears said.

One of ManageMyHome's users sued Sears last week in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging that a Sears customer's purchase history could be revealed by typing in the customer's name, address and phone number.

"Hackers can systematically access this data for much more insidious purposes," the lawsuit said.