CRTC fines two companies $250,000 in malware investigation

OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC has caught and fined two online advertising companies for allegedly aiding in the distribution of malware through online ads, the first time it has done so under Canada’s anti-spam law.The Commission said Wednesday that Datablocks and Sunlight Media have been served with violation notices for purportedly helping to help spread malicious computer programs (malware) through the distribution of online advertising. The companies were fined $100,000 and $150,000, respectively.Using its anti-spam powers, the CRTC said that the “highly complex investigation” found that the companies allegedly violated Canada’s anti-spam law in the following ways:Sunlight Media accepted...