SPYWARE

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By-Ashish Kumar

SPYWARE

software that is downloaded onto a person’s computer without their knowledge. Spyware may collect information about a computer user’s activities and transmit that information to someone else.

How spyware can harm

Spyware can harm you by many ways:• Slow browser• Modify internet settings• Can collect your Personal information

How we can divide spyware

Spyware can be broken down into two different categories:• surveillance spyware • advertising spyware

Surveillance software:– Includes key loggers, screen capture devices. These

would be used by corporations, private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and suspicious spouses.

Advertising spyware:– Software that is installed alongside other software often

without the user's knowledge, or without full disclosure that it will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads.

– Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computer's hardware and software configuration, the name, age etc.

Preventive Techniques

• Don't install any application unless you are certain of what it does or where it came from.

• Always read the license agreement• Software and OS upgrades• Utilize browser’s security settings• Use Anti-Spyware: Spy remover Microsoft Windows AntiSpyWare