Spyware

Spyware is a program that monitors user activity, collects statistics on their online behavior, intercepts personal data, and more. The results of this surveillance are used by various clients, from marketers to cybercriminals and even trolls.

There are two main types of spyware:

• Tracker. Tracks user behavior on a local device, on the Internet, and their physical movements (using geodata). This also includes some types of adware that show users ads based on their search history.
• Keylogger. Initially, keyloggers recorded keystrokes and mouse clicks. Gradually, their functionality expanded: now they can take screenshots, intercept information from the memory buffer, record audio from the microphone, scan email traffic, and much more. Logins, passwords, and other personal data are the favorite targets of the creators of this type of spyware, and in this respect, keyloggers are similar to Trojan programs (see the separate article about them).

There are also legal types of spyware, such as Google services. They track the user’s location, content preferences, search history, etc. All this is presented as a means of “improving the level of service.” However, many people consider such actions to be an invasion of privacy. Unlike malicious spyware, most of Google’s spy services can be disabled independently.

Sources can include infected websites, programs received by email, or downloads bundled with unverified free programs.