An independent investigation by supporters of the hacktivist collective Anonymous claimed in March that a Virginia-based firm called Booze Allen Hamilton was supplying spying software to the government of Azerbaijan.

FORBES: Report: British Firm Offered Spy Software To Egypt

In 2010 parents of a Pennsylvania high schooler sued Lower Merion School District for "spying" on their son using Absolute surveillance software.

FORBES: Magazine Article

If anything, the spying operation shows only how bitter the rivalry has become between the top two software firms.

ECONOMIST: Dirty dealings