Spyware - What is it and why should I worry about it?

Spyware is unwanted software that attaches itself to your computer, often without your knowledge, when you surf the web. It spies on you, and when it does, it noticeably slows down and can even crash your computer. Worse, spyware can compromise your identity.  Just a few short years ago, spyware wasn't considered much more than a nuisance. It has since rapidly become a huge security risk for companies and consumers alike.

Originally spyware was a term used to describe any technology that gathered information about a person or organization without their knowledge. Now spyware is a catchall term for several types of malicious software. The consequences of a moderate to severe spyware infection (privacy issues aside) generally include a substantial loss of system performance and major stability issues (crashes and hangs).

Spyware is designed to collect information about you and your web habits. Many people are unaware that their computers are infected with spyware that has been secretly installed into their hard drives. Some of these programs were created expressly for advertising purposes, sending marketers information about what you search for online, what you download, what sites you visit, etc. Advertisers in turn use this information to send you "tailored" pop-up advertisements that cater to your individual interests, based on sites you've previously visited.

Some forms of spyware are more malicious than others. Webroot, a Boulder-based anti-spyware company (www.webroot.com/spywareinformation/), has been quoted in industry news as saying that these worst and most malicious forms of spyware are also the fastest growing. The more malicious versions can be used to transmit e-mail addresses for spamming, share your personal information (passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card information, etc.), increasing your risk for identity theft and other privacy issues. Some of the most invasive forms may even track exactly what keys you type.

The bottom line is that spyware primarily works without your permission and behind your back.

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