what is spyware?
Spyware and other unwanted software refers to software that
performs certain tasks on your computer, typically without your consent.
This may include giving you advertising or collecting personal
information about you. In addition, poorly written spyware can often cause your computer to
function incorrectly even after it has been removed.
But the worst part of it, as the name says, it is that it spy on you. What
does that mean? It means it records your confidential information (name,
address, card numbers, etc) and use it later for evil purposes.
You probably may have heard of identity theft, stolen bank account
information, stolen paypal, etc. In most of the cases, spyware was
responsible for all this.
In the history of computers, trojans and
viruses were known as being the most evil programs, but now with the
expansion of internet, evil persons dont want only to destroy your files,
the want to steal your money and your identity for their own good. Spyware
is not written for fun, it is written for commercial purposes, and even
worse for thieves.
Your emails can get to your competitors, your
online
bank account information can go to someone from a country where you can't
even sue him for taking your money.
There also have been reported
cases where snapshots or minimovies were recorded from people using their
webcams. Later they were used for blackmail.
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