spyware
Sign in to saveSpyware (a portmanteau for spying software) is any malware that aims to gather information about a person or organization and send it to another entity in a way that harms the user by violating their privacy, endangering their device's security, or other means. This behavior may be present in other malware and in legitimate software. Websites may engage in spyware behaviors like web tracking. Hardware devices may also be affected.
AI overview
Spyware is malicious software designed to secretly collect information about a person or organization and send it to someone else, harming the user by invading their privacy or compromising their device's security. It's important to know about because spyware-like behavior can appear in various forms—including legitimate software, website tracking, and even hardware devices—making it a widespread privacy and security threat.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
35 sectionsContents
- History
- Targeted advertisement
- The arms-race between spyware vendors
- Overview
- Privacy-invasive software
- Definitions
- Distinction
- Routes of infection
- Effects and behaviors
- Remedies and prevention
- Anti-spyware programs
- How anti-spyware software works
- Security practices
- Applications
- "Stealware" and affiliate fraud
- Identity theft and fraud
- Digital rights management
- Personal relationships
- Browser cookies
- Shameware
- Spyware programs
- Spyware vendors
- Rogue anti-spyware programs
- Legal issues
- Criminal law
- Administrative sanctions
- US FTC actions
- Netherlands OPTA
- Civil law
- Libel suits by spyware developers
- WebcamGate
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Spyware (a portmanteau for spying software) is any malware that aims to gather information about a person or organization and send it to another entity in a way that harms the user by violating their privacy, endangering their device's security, or other means. This behavior may be present in other malware and in legitimate software. Websites may engage in spyware behaviors like web tracking. Hardware devices may also be affected.
Spyware is frequently associated with advertising and involves many of the same issues. Because these behaviors are so common, and can have non-harmful uses, providing a precise definition of spyware is a difficult task.