Suit: Rental company spies on customers using PCs

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

A major furniture-rental chain provides its customers with computers that allow the company to track keystrokes, take screenshots and even snap web-cam pictures of renters using the devices at home, a Wyoming couple said in a lawsuit Tuesday.

Computer-privacy experts said the firm has the right to equip its computers with software it can use to shut off the devices remotely if customers stop paying their bills, but they must be told if they’re being monitored.

“If I’m renting a computer ... then I have a right to know what the limitations are, and I have a right to know if they’re going to be collecting data from my computer,” said Annie Anton, a professor and computer-privacy expert with North Carolina State University.

But the couple who sued Atlanta-based Aaron’s Inc. said they had no clue the computer they rented last year was equipped with a device that could spy on them.

Brian Byrd, 26, and his wife, Crystal, 24, said they didn’t even realize that was possible until a store manager in Casper came to their home Dec. 22.

The manager tried to repossess the computer because he mistakenly believed the Byrds hadn’t paid off their rent-to-own agreement. When Brian Byrd showed the manager a signed receipt, the manager showed Byrd a picture of Byrd using the computer — taken by the computer’s webcam.

Brian Byrd demanded to know where the picture came from, and the manager “responded that he was not supposed to disclose that Aaron’s had the photograph,” the lawsuit said.

Byrd told The Associated Press in an exclusive telephone interview the day before the suit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Erie, that he believes the store manager showed him the picture because he “was just trying to throw his weight around and get an easy repossession.”

That’s when the Byrds contacted police who, their attorney said, have determined the image was shot with the help of spying software, which the lawsuit contends is made by North East, Pa.-based Designerware LLC and is installed on all Aaron’s rental computers. Designerware also is being sued.

David Katz, an attorney at Atlanta-based Aaron’s, said he was not familiar with the lawsuit but was hoping to issue a response after reviewing a copy.

Tim Kelly, who said he is one of the owners of Designerware, also wasn’t aware of the lawsuit and declined to comment.