What Is Spyware?
Spyware is software that is used to allow others to see where your computer is taking you, but all spyware does not carry the same degree of danger. Some of it is legal, and used by employers to track the activities of their employees, parents to track the Internet activities of their children and law enforcement agencies to trap criminals. According to a 2009 report from ParetoLogic, Inc., more than a dozen types of spyware exist.
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Keyloggers
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Most keyloggers record every stroke of your keyboard and can transmit those strokes in a log file to others without their knowledge. They can be used to steal passwords, obtain financial information, learn what emails are being sent to whom and what those emails say, and the like.
In November 2008, the Federal Trade Commission obtained an injunction against a keylogger manufacturer, claiming deceptive practices. The company reportedly instructed clients in how to disguise the software so that it would be installed on victims' hard drives without their knowledge.
Adware
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Adware is used to display unwanted advertisements, such as pop-ups that slow down the users' enjoyment of the Internet. The ads can collect data for market research, says ParetoLogic.
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Browser Helper Objects (BHO)
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BHOs are DLL files executed by Internet Explorer, according to ParetoLogic. The Google toolbar is an example of a benign one, but a number track usage, record private data and display advertisements.
Browser Hijackers
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Hijackers change home page settings, error pages, search pages and bookmarks. According to spam-site.com, these can be used to mine data, another way of saying collection information.
Downloaders
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Downloaders cause the computer to download programs surreptitiously, and that can lead to the downloading of viruses and worms, says ParetoLogic.
Exploits
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Such programs regularly make news because they exploit weaknesses in programs such as Internet Explorer to access the user's computer remotely.
Remote Administration Tools (RATs)
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RATs allow intruders to gain remote access to a PC to collect data, erase files, reformat the hard drive, upload, restart and shutdown.
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