Never, ever, ever, ever rent a computer

Forgive me, had that silly Taylor Swift song in my head wi that headline.  If you immediately know what I am talking about, you have that song in your head as well.  Regardless, never rent a computer.  Besides being a complete and utter rip-off financially, recently we discovered that those companies have been spying on you with that rented computer. The federal government hasn't thought too kindly of this.

Eight firms settled with the Federal Trade Commission this week over charges that they spied on consumers via rented computers.

The FTC contends that the offending organizations used PCs to capture screenshots of confidential personal information, log users' keystrokes, and even take webcam photos of people in their homes, all without notice to or consent from the renters.

This week's settlement bars the charged companies, including Nevada-based design firm DesignerWare, from further illegal spying, activating location-tracking software without consent, and deceptively collecting and disclosing information about consumers, according to the FTC.