What Is Spyware Used For?
Spyware has many types of uses depending on how the software is being applied. The most common use of spyware is sent in the form of malware to gather personal information about a user on an infected computer. Other uses for spyware include gathering various types of information and using that information for market research and monitoring a user's computer activity. Spyware can appear in many types of computer programs to perform various tasks.
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Malware
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Most of the spyware that is downloaded to a computer is in the form of malware. This malware can have many purposes, depending on what it is designed to do. Some types of malware/spyware will display false warning messages on a user's desktop. Other types can collect personal information, which is then transmitted over the Internet without the user's knowledge.
Adware
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Adware is a type of spyware that is used to display pop-up advertisements on a user's desktop. This type of software is also known as ad-supported software and can be used for free as long as ads are displayed in the software. Adware can also be used to collect a user's personal information.
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Spambots
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Spyware can be used to create what are known as spambots. A spambot is a group of computers that are controlled or set up remotely to send information or spam messages to thousands, if not millions, of users. Seemingly insignificant software can hide on a computer system and come online to work for a spammer at any time.
Monitoring
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Monitoring users' activities while they are online is another use for spyware. This type of spyware is referred to a computer monitoring and can be used by businesses, parents or anyone else who wants to monitor the activities of a computer user. This can include spyware that acts as a keylogger to capture what a user is typing into the system.
Identity Theft
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One of the most common uses of spyware is to obtain passwords or personal information such as credit card numbers. Spyware can attempt to trick users into providing their personal information in the form of registration forms on a Web page as well as pop-up windows on the desktop.
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