What does spyware actually do? The better you understand how spyware works, the better you can defend against it. System monitors are often disguised as freeware. System monitors can record all of your keystrokes, emails, chat room dialogs, websites visited, and programs run. System monitors are a type of spyware that can capture just about everything you do on your computer. Internet tracking is a common practice used to follow your web activities-like browsing history and downloads-mostly for marketing purposes. Then it damages, disrupts, or steals your data. Just like the Trojan horse from Greek mythology, a trojan tricks you into letting it in (or, more specifically, onto your device), by acting like a software update or file. Trojans are a type of malware disguised as legitimate software.

Here are some of the unique tactics each type of spyware uses to track you:Īdware tracks your browser history and downloads with the intent of predicting what products or services you’re interested in. Their function ranges from tracking your browser activity so marketers can target your interests, for instance, to monitoring your keystrokes and nearly everything you do on your device. Some online tracking is used for things like remembering your login information or customizing your website experience.

As for the data spyware collects? It might supply that to the spyware author or a third party.Īnd while the term 'spyware' is generally reserved for software with malicious intent, it's worth noting that not all software that tracks your web activity does so for bad reasons. Its surveillance of your sensitive information can do everything from causing pesky advertising and pop-ups to appear on your device all the way to tracking your keystrokes and login credentials.

For a spyware definition, spyware is a type of malware that's installed on your device without your knowledge or permission, covertly gathering intel about you.

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