Spyware

Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about a user of a computer without their informed consent. Coined in 1995, but not widely used until after 2000, the term is often used interchangeably with adware and malware. Spyware is itself a form of malware, which is software designed to infiltrate and intentionally or otherwise damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.

Spyware utilises a range of techniques to record personal information, including logging keystrokes, recording Internet web browsing history, and scanning documents on the computer's hard disk. Spyware is employed for a range of motives, from the overtly criminal (stealing of passwords and financial details) to the merely annoying (recording Internet search history for the purposes of targeted advertising, while consuming computer resources). Spyware can collect many different types of information about a user. Some variants attempt to track what types of websites a user visits and then send this information to an advertising agency. More malicious variants attempt to intercept passwords or credit card numbers as a user enters them into a web form or other application.

An entire industry has built up around combating spyware. There are many programs designed to control spyware by preventing the installation, or if encountered, by detecting then removing it from email or other sources. A number of companies have incorporated forms of spyware into their software, primarily for purposes of advertising. While these types of programs are not considered to be malware, they are still spyware in the sense of watching and observing with advertising in mind, making them a cross between spyware and adware. However, such applications are still spying (hence spyware) and advertising (hence adware). It is somewhat arguable whether such 'legitimate' uses of adware/spyware are malware since the user often has no knowledge of these 'legitimate' programs being installed on his/her computer and is generally unaware that these programs are infringing on his/her privacy. In any case, these programs still use the computing resources of the host's computer without permission.