What is Spyware?
Spyware is very similar to adware, but spyware comes with malicious intent. Spyware or malware is the same.
However, not all spyware is malicious. Some corporate, share computer, or public computer might install spyware on purpose to track or monitor the activity of their users secretly.
The negative side of malicious malware or spyware is it is secretly installed on user computer and it extracts personal data or other data and sends to somewhere else.
It can also change setting, bring up homepage, and cause other functions of other installed programs.
It can track user’s visiting habit, redirect to specific website, and collect and transfer personal information.
Spyware is advertising-supported software like adware. It often comes bundled with other program. That is why spyware is installed without user’s knowledge. The infected computer will run slower and there is many pop-up ads appear on computer screen.
Spyware reports user activity to third party like which website the user visits, number of visits, what activity when they are online. This is occurred in the background while use is actively browsing.
Spyware is used to steal personal information and credit card number. But spyware does not self-replicate itself like a virus or worm.
If you think that your computer is infected by spyware or adware, you can find solution such as anti-virus or anti-spyware software program. It is a best practice for security reason to run anti-spyware or anti-virus regularly.