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What is Spyware?

Spyware is software that is installed on your computer (usually without your knowledge) that secretly gathers data about your internet usage and computer habits and sends that information to advertisers or other interested parties.  There is no way you can control what information is being sent out about you.  Spyware attaches itself to a computer either as a software virus, or as a result of a new program being installed. 

Spyware can track where you surf on the internet, deliver pop up ads, and even collect credit card information.  When users visit sites that have online forms to be filled out, such as contest sites, shopping sites, etc., some spyware programs can capture the information from online forms.

There are many types of spyware that your computer can become infected with.  Some types you may not have heard of before.  Here is a brief overview of the most common types: 

• Ad rotators:  Most people don't realize when this spyware is installed on their computers.  What ad rotators do is replace the regular banner or pop-up ads that appear in your web browser with ads from the spyware developer's partners.  This slows down how fast your internet pages load.
• Adware:  Adware is not necessarily spyware, but some adware contains spyware.  Always read the fine print in the End User License Agreement, or their Terms of Use to find out exactly what they expect you to give up in order to use their product.  People who blindly click OK without checking, often find themselves saddled with unwanted spyware.
• Browser hijackers:  These are the most annoying types of spyware out there.  They change your home page or search page on your so that you get stuck going tot the spyware producer's site.  Each time you reset your home page back to where you want it to go, the browser hijacker will just change it back to their page the next time you reboot.  Browser hijackers also flood you with pop-ups, add unwanted sites to your bookmarks, put unwanted links in your forum posts, and exploit security vulnerabilities in your system.

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Page last updated January 26, 2008