Spyware is a type of malicious software (malware) that is often used to gain unauthorized access to computers, networks and data. It can be installed on computers without the user’s knowledge or consent, and it collects information about the user’s activities and sends this data back to attackers for their own purposes. Spyware can also be used to steal passwords, financial information, personal data and company secrets.
The main purpose of spyware is typically to collect sensitive data from users such as credit card numbers, login credentials, banking details or other confidential information which can then be sold in underground forums or exploited by the attackers for further malicious activity. In addition to collecting data from users’ systems, spyware may also include additional functions such as keylogging (recording all keyboard input), capturing screenshots of what’s happening on your computer screen or disabling certain security features like antivirus protection.
Since spyware is designed with stealth in mind – meaning it runs silently in the background – it’s important for users to take measures against this threat through regular scans with specialized anti-spyware tools that are able detect and remove any malicious components before they become too damaging. Additionally keeping all applications up-to-date helps protect against potential exploits being leveraged by these types of malware programs as well as using an effective firewall configuration which ensures only trusted connections are allowed into a system.
