spyware

Spyware is software installed without the owner’s consent and monitors the user’s surfing behavior without their knowledge. Spyware can collect personal information, redirect browsers, install additional software and even change computer settings. Spyware is often associated with other terms, such as adware, malware, crimeware and scareware.

Adware is considered the least dangerous of the "wares" and is installed by marketing entities to download advertising, but some adware is considered spyware, too. Malware is a more severe form of this type of software and the designation means that the intrusion into a system has malicious intent. When the intent is of a criminal nature, we hear the term crimeware used. When the term crimeware is used, financial crimes and or identity theft are normally the end result.

Another newer term being used is scareware. Scareware is used to scare users into buying something by tricking them into thinking an issue exists. Frequently, this happens when a user gets a message that their system is infected will all kinds of adware, spyware, malware and crimeware and a computer security solution (for money) is offered to rid the computer of all these “wares.”

The line of between legitimate and illegitimate use is blurry when it comes to spyware. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has been active in defining when the use of this software is illegal and has argued that a computer is the property of a user and not third parties, who install software without the owner’s consent. The FTC has also taken numerous actions against the distributors of spyware. One such action was in November 2008 when they halted the sale of a vendor selling spyware with key-logging capabilities.

Spyware has also spawned computer security solutions designed to prevent and detect spyware in a system. Sadly, most of us are forced to employ these solutions in the attempt to have a safe experience when surfing the sometimes murky waters of the Internet.

by Ed Dickson Are you a writer, passionate about this or any other topic? Join Blogcritics!

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “spyware”

• Safe Surfing

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  If you’re going to connect to the internet, you need to protect your computer, otherwise it’s like leaving your front door wide open with a big ‘Robbers Welcome’ doormat on your front step. You’ve probably heard all the terms – such as virus, hacker, firewall, spyware and a million more – but perhaps ...
  3 hours ago

• The danger behind peer-to-peer file sharing

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  File sharing is very common nowadays. You can get a P2P (peer-to-peer) program for free, and soon start sharing stuff like music, videos and programs. We use these applications freely and most of us don’t know the risks involved when using them. Questionable reliability of files – Once we get our hands on a P2P ...
  5 hours ago

• Spyware.Screenspy

  
  Remove Spyware & Malware with SpyHunter - Enigma Software Group USA LLC — Authority: 147
  Spyware.Screenspy is a spyware program with the ability to surreptitiously capture screenshots. Spyware.Screenspy is designed to steal data from a targeted system and send it to a remote attacker.... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
  8 hours ago

• How many spyware items are infecting your computer?

  
  Humor and Business — Authority: 126
  I just had, by mistake, a plug-in called Intelligent Explorer attach to my browser. What a nightmare! I have another article on this topic, but this brings home a point. Spyware or adware items are continually infecting computers. Most computers have no protection from them. Most frightening is the ...
  8 hours ago

• How to remove AntiMalware (Uninstall instructions)

  
  My Anti Spyware — Authority: 424
  AntiMalware is a rogue antispyware program from same family as Active Security and Protection System. When the rogue is installed it will register itself in the Windows registry to run automatically... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
  9 hours ago

• McAfee IntruShield Sensor Software 5.1.7.73

  
  Digiwarez Inc. Warez Games DDL — Authority: 156
  McAfee IntruShield Sensor Software 5.1.7.73 | Size : 324 MB
  9 hours ago

• Avira Antivir Rescue System 3.55 (09.11)

  
  Digiwarez Inc. Warez Games DDL — Authority: 156
  Avira Antivir Rescue System 3.55 (09.11) | Size : 59 MB
  9 hours ago

• How to remove AntiMalware rogue anti-spyware

  
  remove-malware.net — Authority: 131
  Malware Description: The program called AntiMalware is an updated counterpart of Active Security rogue anti-spyware, consequently it is a potential hazard to the security and further integrity of the computer system it installs onto. Similarly to its above-mentioned predecessor, AntiMalware infiltrates without ...
  9 hours ago

• Remove AntiMalware

  
  Windows XP/Vista Blog — Authority: 125
  AntiMalware Descriptions:AntiMalware is a rogueware application, the clone of the Active Security, as well as PC Scout. As is common to most rogue applications, during the installation AntiMalware is configured to start automatically every time you boot up Windows.In addition, the Trojans will try to remove the real ...
  11 hours ago

• Free Security Programs – The Right Price For Computer Safety

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  While you may think that security software for your computer is expensive, a number of developers have made some of their versions available over the Internet for free. Hard to believe, but true. Instead of purchasing expensive security software packages that have more fire power than what a typical consumer might ...
  11 hours ago

• Your Home Computer Will be Safe and Secured if You Follow These Steps

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  As a home computer user, you need to make sure that your computer is safe from any form of malicious online attack, including hacking. You might have important data including any identification in your computer which intruders can have access to. It is therefore very important for you to find out just how safe your ...
  13 hours ago

• The Ultimate Troubleshooter 4.90

  
  Free and cracked software — Authority: 141
  A staggering 65% of problems which a PC encounters (lockups, crashes, blue screens of death, computer is running slow, sluggish PC), whether in business or at home, are not caused by hardwareproblems, they are not caused by viruses, they are not caused by spyware they are caused by background tasks belonging largely ...
  15 hours ago

• Next generation spammers rise up in Asia, India and Brazil

  
  Spamzy — Authority: 110
  High-speed broadband allows worldwide miscreantingA new generation of spammers is rising up in regions such as Asia Pacific, Japan, and South America, and beginning to outstrip their North American counterparts in junk mail output.…Offloading malware protection to the cloudHere is the original: Next generation ...
  15 hours ago

• Four Pillars of Cyber Warfare: Intelligence

  
  Information Security Resources — Authority: 472
  By Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst, IT-Harvest There are four pillars to the cyber war realm: intelligence, technology, logistics, and command. One premise is that cyber warfare is a component of the ongoing struggle between philosophies of politics, governance, and markets to be waged by opposing ...
  16 hours ago

• Packed.Generic.267 Virus Removal

  
  Detect and Remove Spyware — Authority: 146
  Packed.Generic.267 is a heuristic detection for encrypted files which are attempting to hide from antivirus programs and therefore possibly avoiding detection (Source: Symantec). These files may also download additional forms of malware. Packed.Generic.267 is part of the Packed.Generic family of possible threats. ...
  20 hours ago

• MyPhoneExpress Review – Unlimited media for your mobile phone

  
  Application For Mobile — Authority: 141
  MyPhoneExpress.com falls under the list of Cell Phone Downloads sites where you get all kinds of stuff to use to customize your cell phone. You can have newthemes, new videos, and even download your old favorite TV shows just by downloading them off the website. MyPhoneExpress.com prides itself in having downloads ...
  21 hours ago

• How to Spot Phishing Emails

  
  Spy Review — Authority: 121
  What is a phishing email? A phishing email is an email which lands in your inbox and asks for sensitive personal data like bank account details, user names, passwords and other security information which the phisher can then use to steal your identity or your money. The email may purportedly come from banks, ...
  23 hours ago

• Remain Vigilant and Exercise Caution

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  We live in a world where there are many helpful and kind people and then there are also those who are filled with hatred and would wish to do us harm. This is a statement that most would agree with–look around us in our daily lives and we can easily pick out examples of each. Often, when we identify these things ...
  1 day ago

• Security Software Options And Their Prices

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  The Internet is no doubt a wonderful development. Without it we wouldn’t be able to check the scores of games that aren’t on television, have a child find out what makes up the earth’s atmosphere without leaving home, or conveniently gather any number of other information sources important to people for their ...
  1 day ago

• Essential Anti Spam Measures For PC And Laptop Users

  
  Wael Isa — Authority: 141
  Despite legislation prohibiting spam in most countries of the world, spam is still as prevalent today as it was prior to the legislated prohibitions. Computer users, particularly home and private users, need to know and implement five essential security measures to prevent the majority of spam from ever reaching their ...
  1 day ago

Comments about spyware