Spyware Definition
Spyware is malware that infects computers and other connected
devices and secretly records your online habits, the sites you visit, and your
online purchases. Some types of spyware also store your passwords, IDs, and credit
card numbers. This information is then passed on to the author of the spyware,
who either uses it for personal gain or sells it to a third party.
Like other types of malware, spyware is installed on your
computer without your knowledge. They usually accompany legitimate software
that you downloaded intentionally (a file sharing program for example, or other
free software or sharing application), but you can also download it
unintentionally by visiting malicious sites or clicking on links or attachments
to infected emails. As soon as you install it, the spyware attaches itself to
your operating system and runs quietly in the background.
The term "spyware" was coined in the mid-1990s, but
the software itself has been around much longer. Originally, authors simply
added a spyware component to their programs to monitor its use. Then they
contacted potential advertisers armed with statistics provided by this software
or used them to detect any use of the software without a license. In the early
2000s, more than 90 percent of the world's computers were infected with some
form of spyware installed without their users' knowledge and without their
permission.
There is an enormous amount of spyware in circulation today,
and it can even accompany equipment. Rather than targeting individual users,
the creators of spyware seek to collect as much data as possible and sell it to
advertisers, spammers, crooks or hackers. As new forms of malware are released
every few seconds, no one is safe from spyware. Even companies you trust use
spyware to observe your behavior, which you allowed them to do when you agreed
to their license agreement.
Malware Definition
The term malware is the contraction of the English expression
"my licious software ". It designates any program or software
specifically designed or modified to damage a computer. In reality, it is a
generic term which designates more a class of software than a specific type of
program. Viruses, Trojans, some java scripts or java applets are some of them.
Identifying malware on your computer early can help protect
personal data. Malware is an umbrella term used to describe a number of types
of malware, including adware, spyware, viruses, Trojans, and more.
Goal
Most malware is designed to cause damage to your computer in
some way. Many programs can accidentally damage your computer, but the only
purpose of malware is to cause errors, slow down your computer, or spread
viruses. The purpose of spyware comes from its name, and is designed to watch
your actions. Spyware will look at the sites you visit, and in the most extreme
cases, what you type track to steal your passwords and personal information.
Effects Malware like viruses and Trojans usually just causes problems with your
computer itself, like slowing it down or causing errors. Spyware gathers your
personal information, and therefore can cause much more damage in the long run
by giving other people access to your online accounts, banking information and
more.
Prevention
Trojans, viruses, and similar malware can be transmitted in a
variety of ways - from the websites you visit, the programs you download, and
the emails you open. Because of this, they often have more points of entry and
can infect your system more easily, and prevention involves using a firewall
and making sure your
antivirus program can run in the background to detect them automatically.
Spyware can be a little harder to detect, and it can infect your system without
your knowledge. Antispyware programs are more effective in the elimination
stage, rather than in prevention.
Deletion
While most malware can be scanned and removed by an antivirus program,
spyware is a bit better at hiding. To remove spyware, an updated spyware
program usually does trick; antispyware programs are different from antivirus
programs, so it's useful to have one of each on your computer. Antispyware
programs also generally do not monitor your computer and cannot pick up spyware
during system scanning.
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