When I set out to write an article about spyware, I thought it would be about finding the best spyware for your money. But in the process, I found out more about spyware, and its relatives, than I imagined, and it was very enlightening. There is an organization called the Anti-Spyware Coalition, made up of several software and computer companies. Their goal is to work together to combat computer security issues. A good deal of my information is based on their work.

 

First, let’s talk about the differences between viruses and spyware. A virus gets into a computer, alters its functionality, and then sends itself to another computer. While viruses seem to be more about plain damaging and corrupting, spyware is about obtaining information and propagating advertising. When you think about the many threats that spyware poses, you’ll see that spyware is worse that virusus.

 

There are two common ways of defining spyware. The actual definition of spyware is software that tracks activities for which a computer is used, e.g., shopping, surfing, and banking. It’s alarming to find that people are out there tracking your activities and having access to the files used to conduct that business. But there’s a larger sense of spyware that includes so much more, and that’s where such invasions become downright frightening.

 

One interesting item is adware. It uses the same technology as advertising display software, which as the name indicates, allows ads to appear on your screen. But adware may include a tracking component, such as those that monitor your shopping habits to target ads to your evident interests.

 

Frequently, legitimate technology can be used by illegitimate sources to end up as spyware. For example, remote control software can be very useful in telecommuting or getting customer support. But in the hands of a hacker, it can be used to look around your computer for extremely important data, such as banking information, credit card numbers, and cookies from retail sites. Another such case is security analysis software that is supposed to add security to your system. But it is also a way of finding holes in your security system through which a hacker can penetrate your computer. A Trojan is a tool intended for one task, but performs an additional task without your knowledge.

 

There are many ways of getting spyware onto your computer. One trick is to bundle software. You may actively download and install a product without knowing that it is bundled with a hidden tool that constitutes spyware. Another is a download that happens merely because you surfed a page that has an automatic download associated with it. It’s important to close out of pop-ups using the X in the upper right corner of the window to ensure the “close” option doesn’t include installing a piece of software. Also, look at the actual link before you click it to ensure it matches what the hypertext purports it to be.

 

So, let us return to my original intent. Assuming you are now properly motivated, there are a number of anti-spyware tools available. Like viruses, new spyware is constantly being created and released, so make sure your anti-spyware software has updates. Unfortunately, beware of free anti-spyware software because it may be spyware itself.