Spyware

Spyware refers to all applications that send private information without user consent or awareness. Spyware uses tracking functions to send various statistical data, such as visited websites, email addresses from the user‘s contacts or recorded keystrokes.

Spyware authors claim that these techniques aim to discover information about users’ needs and interests and allow better-targeted advertisement. The problem is that there is no clear distinction between useful and malicious applications and the information retrieved may be misused. The data obtained by spyware applications may contain security codes, PINs, bank account numbers and more. Authors often bundle spyware with the free versions of a program to generate revenue or  offer an incentive for purchasing the software. Often, users are informed of spyware during a program‘s installation to give them an incentive to upgrade to a paid version without it.

Examples of well-known freeware products that come bundled with spyware are client applications of P2P (peer-to-peer) networks. Spyfalcon or Spy Sheriff (and many more) belong to a specific spyware subcategory—they appear to be antispyware programs, but are actually spyware programs themselves.

If a spyware file is detected on your computer, it is advisable to delete it because it is highly likely to contain malicious code.

Keyloggers, a spyware subcategory,  can be hardware or software-based. Software-based keyloggers can only collect the information typed into a single website or application. More sophisticated keyloggers can record everything you type, including the information you copy and paste. Some keyloggers targeting mobile devices can record calls, information from messaging applications, locations or even microphone and camera captures.