Spyware
Tools: Spyware is software that runs on a computer
without the explicit permission of its user.
It often gathers private information from a
users computer and sends this data over the
Internet back to the software manufacturer.
Adware is software that runs on a computer without
the owner's consent, much like spyware. However,
instead of taking information, it typically
runs in the background and displays random or
targetted pop-up advertisements. In many cases,
this slows the computer down and may also cause
software conflicts.
Spyware differs from viruses and worms in that
it does not usually self-replicate. Like many
recent viruses, however, spyware – by design
– exploits infected computers for commercial
gain. Typical tactics furthering this goal include
delivery of unsolicited pop-up advertisements;
theft of personal information (including financial
information such as credit card numbers); monitoring
of Web-browsing activity for marketing purposes;
or routing of HTTP requests to advertising sites.
As of 2005, spyware has become one of the pre-eminent
security threats to computer-systems running
Microsoft Windows operating-systems (and especially
to users of Internet Explorer because of that
browser's dependence on the Windows operating
system). Some malware on the Linux and Mac OS
X platforms has behavior similar to Windows
spyware, but to date has not become anywhere
near as widespread. |
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