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!

Original Technorati articles tagged “spyware”

• in Technology
  Rented Computers Caught Spying on Customers
  Rent-to-Own Computer customers secretly photographed and spied upon by rental companies.
  by goldnugget / on Sep 28, 2012
• in IT
  Warning: Your Computer Might Already Have a Virus Before you Buy it
  A Microsoft study reveals that many computers come with a virus already on them when they leave the factory!
  by cmimanagers / on Sep 14, 2012
• in Android
  Android Market Serves Up Malware
  Android Malware Surges More Than 400 Percent During Last Quarter
  by goldnugget / on Nov 20, 2011

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “spyware”

 

• How To Remove Trojan.JS.Redirector.za, A Guide To Remove Trojan.JS.Redirector.za From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Trojan.JS.Redirector.za is a dangerous Trojan horse that compromises your computer without precaution. Once installed, Trojan.JS.Redirector.za can damage your system, processes and files seriously. This Trojan.JS.Redirector.za is capable to disable your normal programs particularly your anti-virus tool. Moreover, ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Trojan.JS.Redirector.za (Removal Guide), How To Remove Trojan.JS.Redirector.za

  
  — Authority:
  Trojan.JS.Redirector.za is a nasty computer infection. This Trojan.JS.Redirector.za sneaks on computers social networks vulnerability, free downloads, malicious sites or software exploitation in secret. Once installed, Trojan.JS.Redirector.za can change your search results on any search system with malicious links ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove Backdoor.DarkKomet, A Guide To Remove Backdoor.DarkKomet From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Backdoor.DarkKomet is a very harmful cyber threat and it is a member of the Backdoor family. Once installed, Backdoor.DarkKomet modifies the firewall settings and Windows registry settings without the user’s knowledge. The Backdoor.DarkKomet creates the registry entries so that it can load automatically whenever the ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Backdoor.DarkKomet (Removal Guide), How To Remove Backdoor.DarkKomet

  
  — Authority:
  Backdoor.DarkKomet is a computer Trojan horse program that came from the same family to infect computers. Once installed, Backdoor.DarkKomet modifies registry, firewall, Internet and file system settings thus making it difficult for you to further work on the infected system smoothly. This Backdoor.DarkKomet can make ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove Alot Toolbar, A Guide To Remove Alot Toolbar From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Alot Toolbar is a hazardous browser add-on which installs the computer without user’s knowledge. This Alot Toolbar got on your computer after you have installed a freeware software that had bundled into their installation this browser hijacker. Once installed, Alot Toolbar emulates the Google Search engine and ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Alot Toolbar (Removal Guide), How To Remove Alot Toolbar

  
  — Authority:
  Alot Toolbar is categorized as an unwanted application that infects the computer without user’s permission. This Alot Toolbar can be downloaded from their homepage or it could be installed on your computer together with some free software which you downloaded from Internet. Once installed, Alot Toolbar provides ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove ibsvc.exe, A Guide To Remove ibsvc.exe From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  ibsvc.exe is an infected application which can hijack any web browser to redirect the user to other website. Once installed, ibsvc.exe will automatically download and update those programs. This ibsvc.exe collects sensitive information from compromised computers such as, credit card details, login names and passwords, ...
  3 days ago

• Remove ibsvc.exe (Removal Guide), How To Remove ibsvc.exe

  
  — Authority:
  ibsvc.exe is a harmful computer application that installs the computer without user’s knowledge. This ibsvc.exe is used as an installation envelope for any possible application. Once installed, ibsvc.exe can add some malicious keys and values to windows registry. Moreover, ibsvc.exe displays unwanted advertisement ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove Desk 365 virus, A Guide To Remove Desk 365 virus From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Desk 365 virus is classified as an adware which installs the computer and can easily take over victim’s browsers without any permission asked. This Desk 365 virus is bundled with free programs that you may consider useful but in the end, will cause your computer to be at risk. Additionally, Desk 365 virus collects ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Desk 365 virus (Removal Guide), How To Remove Desk 365 virus

  
  — Authority:
  Desk 365 virus is a nasty adware program that was developed by 337 Technology Limited. This Desk 365 virus can get into random computer systems via free downloads or by p2p sharing networks etc. Once installed, Desk 365 virus is an add-on for Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. This Desk 365 virus alters DNS ...
  3 days ago

• ibsvc.exe – Process Information

  
  — Authority:
  ibsvc.exe - IBUpdaterServiceWhat is ibsvc.exe?ibsvc.exe is not essential for Windows and may cause problems. Its a part of InstallBrain Installer software (detected by antivirus companies as Adware.InstallBrain) that is used to install third... Click the link below to read more :- ibsvc.exe – Process Information
  3 days ago

• How To Remove Trojan Patch.A.Gen, A Guide To Remove Trojan Patch.A.Gen From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Trojan Patch.A.Gen is classified as a harmfull threat that can do greatly damage to computers. Once Trojan Patch.A.Gen infiltrates into the computer successfully, it starts to execute a series of malicious actions right away. Basically, you will notice that your computer will perform extremely slowly and it will take ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Trojan Patch.A.Gen (Removal Guide), How To Remove Trojan Patch.A.Gen

  
  — Authority:
  Trojan Patch.A.Gen is a terrible Trojan virus that can get into the computer furtively and carry out a series of malicious activities immediately. After installation, Trojan Patch.A.Gen will bring in threats including other Trojans, malware, keylogger, etc which will be implanted into your computer system leaving it ...
  3 days ago

• RCMP Ukash virus, help on how to remove

  
  — Authority:
  RCMP Ukash virus is a ransomware infection. These days criminal computer hackers are becoming ever-more sophisticated in their attempt to scam normal members of the public out of their money, and the latest dirty trick in their books is known as ransom... Click the link below to read more :- RCMP Ukash virus, help ...
  3 days ago

• McAfee Labs Stinger 11.0.0.301

  
  — Authority:
  Download McAfee Labs Stinger 11.0.0.301, a standalone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next-generation scan engine technology, including ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove System Care Antivirus 3.7.33, A Guide To Remove System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 is a new rogue antivirus program that can attack ransom system. Once installed, System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 starts running in the infected computer and does the fake scanning of your computer and as a result, it states that your PC is in terrible danger and displays the presence of the ...
  3 days ago

• Remove System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 (Removal Guide), How To Remove System Care Antivirus 3.7.33

  
  — Authority:
  System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 is quite a rogue program that has the ability to automatically start a system scan on your computer to try to lure users with money. This System Care Antivirus 3.7.33 is usaully, promoted through Trojans that pretend to be legitimate programs that are required to view an online video, but ...
  3 days ago

• Ustart.org Removal Guide

  
  — Authority:
  Do you know what ustart.org is? Ustart.org is a website that offers a number of services. It is a custom home page that each user can modify according to his/her liking. For example, the homepage can be modified to show your Facebook feed, news articles BBC Home, Yahoo! Sports, your mail messages, calendar, weather ...
  3 days ago

• How To Remove Kontera, A Guide To Remove Kontera From Your PC

  
  — Authority:
  Kontera is one of the dangerous computer virus which has been recently distributed by computer hackers to earn some money through the illegal way. After getting attached to the browser, Kontera tries to gain the full control over it by changing its advanced settings. Typically, Kontera keeps on displaying various ...
  3 days ago

• Remove Kontera (Removal Guide), How To Remove Kontera

  
  — Authority:
  Kontera is an adware that displays promotions based on keywords which you use. This Kontera adware is usaully obtained via visiting unknown or corrupt websites such as the pornographic sites, open spam email attachments and download freeware/sharewares. Once this Kontera is installed on your system, it will start to ...
  3 days ago

Comments about spyware