What is Spyware?

Spyware is a type of computer program which installs itself onto your PC and then performs functions such as advertising, collecting personal information, opening pop-ups and changing your personal settings. Spyware does not normally seek permission before installing itself on a computer and once installed it quickly becomes a nuisance. Spyware infection is often characterised by poor system performance, annoying pop-up advertisements and changes to the way your web browser functions.

The purpose of spyware is not normally to cause malicious damage to a PC, although by default it often will by causing your system to slow down, crash or behave erratically and as anyone who has had a spyware problem will know these symptoms can be infuriating. The real reason spyware is installed onto a PC is so that the company or person responsible for the spyware can closely monitor the activities of the PC user and then bombard that user with advertisements or other marketing activity. This type of activity is invasive, annoying and the products being pushed are often of a dubious nature.

The most noticeable symptoms of a spyware infestation are significant increases in CPU activity, disk usage and an increase in network traffic. These symptoms will generally lead to a significant drop in system performance. Spyware will often interfere or interact with networking or web browsing software which can result in system or application crashes due to the instability of many spyware application. This type of problem can be significant and is one of the main reasons why people detest spyware.

Spyware is not unlike other forms of vermin and pestilence and you can bet your bottom dollar that where there is one piece of spyware there are many. Once one piece of spyware has taken hold of your system it will open the door for others to follow. Some spyware can disable software firewalls and antivirus programs while also altering browser security settings which will open your system to all sorts of infections. As mentioned above the purpose of a spyware application is not normally to render your system useless as this defeats the commercial objective behind spyware but unfortunately this can often be the result.

Please take the time to study each part of our Spyware section carefully.