spyware

Tag details

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.

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Original Technorati articles tagged “spyware”

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “spyware”
 

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  • Remove Smart Protection 2012


    Windows XP/Vista Blog — Authority Authority: 85
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    3 hours ago

  • Remove Security Monitor 2012


    Windows XP/Vista Blog — Authority Authority: 85
    Security Monitor 2012 is a newly-appeared fake anti-virus program, sibling to Security Solution 2011. Such programs are also called scareware since they exploit a variety of scare-tactics in order to make the users believe there is a number of viruses in their computer systems. Then the malicious software prompts its ...
    3 hours ago

  • Remove itsecure.microsoft.com (Removal Guide), How To Remove itsecure.microsoft.com


    Free Virus Spyware Removal Guide — Authority Authority: 131
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    4 hours ago

  • Remove WindowsClick.com (Removal Guide), How To Remove WindowsClick.com


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  • The Down and Dirty of Choosing a Spyware Remover


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  • Remove Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT taking into account the risk of false positives among system files


    Tech-Page.com - Latest Computer Technoloy News — Authority Authority: 121
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    2 days ago

  • Remove Trojan-PSW.Win32.Antigen.a (Removal Guide), How To Remove Trojan-PSW.Win32.Antigen.a


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    2 days ago

  • SpyHunter v4.8.13.3861


    'Kaspersky keys kis kav Nod32 avast avg Norton — Authority Authority: 139
    SpyHunter - a program to clean your system from spyware, keyloggers, resident viruses, if necessary, removes cookies, registry entries left behind by spyware. Checks running processes Keys Registry, the elements of ActiveX. Has a very user-friendly interface, through which, as easy to use, and ...
    2 days ago

  • Remove Clkpop.com (Removal Guide), How To Remove Clkpop.com


    Free Virus Spyware Removal Guide — Authority Authority: 131
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    2 days ago

  • SUPERAntiSpyware PRO 5.0.1144 Multilanguage


    free spyware removal software — Authority Authority: 111
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    3 days ago

  • Antivirus Smart Protection Removal Guide


    Spyware Techie — Authority Authority: 396
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    4 days ago

  • Smart Protection 2012 Removal Guide


    Spyware Techie — Authority Authority: 396
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    4 days ago

  • Malware Protection Center Removal Guide


    Spyware Techie — Authority Authority: 396
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    4 days ago

  • See What People Are Really Saying With Yahoo Spy


    Break The Security — Authority Authority: 95
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    4 days ago

  • Antivirus Smart Protection


    Anti Spyware 101 — Authority Authority: 95
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    4 days ago

  • Antivirus Smart Protection


    Dedicated 2-viruses — Authority Authority: 101
    Antivirus Smart Protection is a rogue anti-spyware which together with Malware Protection Center from Virus Doctor family. Though it looks trustworthy and legitimate, in reality it has nothing to do with a real situation on your computer because it designed to report only invented parasites. Additionally, you should ...
    5 days ago

  • Uninstall Antivirus Smart Protection fake anti-spyware scam


    remove-malware.net — Authority Authority: 98
    ... To read the article in full, visit remove-malware.net.
    5 days ago

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