Spyware can be placed on a system in a number of different ways, each offering its own benefits. Once the software is installed, it stays hidden and carries out its goals. Methods of infection include, but are not limited to, the following: Peer-to-peer networks (P2P)—This delivery mechanism has become very popular because of the increased … Read more
Spyware is a type of malware that is designed to collect and forward information regarding a victim’s activities to an interested party. The defining characteristic is that the application acts behind the scenes to gather this information without the user’s consent or knowledge. The information gathered by spyware can be anything that the creator of … Read more
Public libraries, Internet cafes, and other customer-serving establishments have their own computers that customers may use to access the Internet. Are these computers safe for you to use? Tales abound of public-access computers infected with viruses, spyware, and even key loggers, many deliberately planted there in order to elicit information from unsuspecting users. I recall … Read more
Spyware is a wide-reaching term that describes software used to monitor your Internet usage patterns, as well as software that can attempt to change your Internet browser configuration, or even record keystrokes (Virginia, the hackers want your bank account and other online passwords). Most spyware is not malicious in the same way that viruses are, … Read more
If you’re like many of us, it isn’t hard to get into the mood to give your computer a thorough cleaning — and I don’t mean with spray disinfectant. Rather, I mean that it’s time to go cloak-and-dagger and check for spyware on your computer. Spyware can be a lot of things. In general, it’s … Read more