What is Spyware?

What is spyware? Spyware, by definition, is a computer software that is installed on a computer in order to gain information about the computer user without his/her consent. It is installed with an intention of monitoring user behavior and collecting information such as personal details, Internet surfing habits and browser activity.

Spyware programs make use of computer networking technologies to send information from different computers to a dedicated computer that is designated to keep track of user activity on the computer network. Information about the websites visited, software downloaded (if any) as well as sensitive data like usernames, passwords and credit card numbers can be gathered by means of spyware.

What does spyware do? Firstly, it installs itself on a computer without the knowledge or consent of the user. It transmits a unique identity code through the network. It collects information from the computer without the user’s consent and also gathers all the user information such as user identity, his/her confidential information and the user’s browsing habits. It keeps reinstalling itself without the knowledge of the user and is able to hide itself from the computer user if it finds that it is being searched.

Computers, which have Internet Explorer as their default web browser, are more vulnerable to spyware as the browser is tightly linked with the Windows operating system due to which it becomes easy for the spyware to harm sensitive parts of the OS. The misconception that all ActiveX components are harmless has led to the spread of spyware components, which make use of ActiveX controls and loopholes in JavaScript programming. Moreover, spyware makes use of the Windows registry to link to points of execution. This results in the execution of spyware each time the operating system boots. Programs running on operating systems like Linux and Mac are less vulnerable to spyware, as these operating systems restrict the programs or the user from meddling with their functionality.

The presence of spyware on a computer can create unwanted CPU activity and increased disk usage, thus hampering the computer speed. Spyware can lead to serious issues like non-performance and instability of the computer system and even a system crash. Spyware can make several parasitic processes run on computers, thus slowing their program execution. Certain kinds of spyware are capable of disabling firewalls and antivirus software thus threatening computer security.

In what forms do spyware programs come? Many of the spyware programs display advertisements. They enter computers through pop-up windows, wherein the user tends to click on deceptive options on the pop-ups. Certain websites gather user information for advertising purposes through the use of spyware. Some spyware programs access chat sessions, usernames and passwords while some can even cause the modem to dial a number other than the usual Internet service provider, resulting in higher call costs to the user.

Cookies that track browsing information and record user activity on the Internet are considered as spyware. Data-collecting programs are regarded as forms of spyware. In general, any technology that gathers information about a computer user without his/her knowledge or consent can be termed as spyware. You can get rid of it by an effective use of antispyware software and implementation of spyware protection mechanisms.

Spyware can be used for tracking user activity over the Internet for the purpose of advertising. Organizations may make use of spyware programs to record user behavior for security concerns. But when user privacy is put on stake without his/her consent, it is indeed illegal and unethical.