Spyware is a spyware program that monitors the user’s actions, collects statistics on his behavior on the network, intercepts personal data and more. The results of surveillance are used by different customers, from marketers to cybercriminals and even just trolls.
Information security audit
There are two main types of spyware:
- Tracker. Monitors user behavior on a local device, on the Internet, and their physical movement (using geo-data). This also includes some types of adware that show ads to the user based on the history of his search queries.
- Keylogger. Initially, keyloggers registered keyboard keystrokes and mouse clicks. Gradually, the functionality expanded: now they can take screenshots, intercept information from the memory buffer, microphone audio recordings, scan email traffic and much more. The usernames, passwords and other personal data entered are the favorite goals of the creators of this type of spyware, and in this aspect keyloggers are related to Trojan programs (see a separate article about them).
There are also legal types of spyware — for example, Google services. They monitor the user’s location, their preferences in choosing content, search history, etc. All this is presented as a means of “improving the level of service.” Many, however, regard such actions as interference in personal life. However, unlike malicious spyware, most of Google’s spyware services can be disabled on their own.
Infected websites can become sources, you can receive the program by mail, download it “in the load” with untested free programs.