spyware

Also known as spying software

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.

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.

~42 min read

Encyclopedic overview

35 sections

Contents

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 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.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “spyware” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.