Lets take a good plain-English look at just what Spyware is, why it is here, and how you can deal with it.  For the context of this report we will group Spyware and Adware together, as they are both similar, but at the same time much different types of “malware” (malicious software!).  First we will address the different types of standard Spyware and what they do as well as discuss the differences between Spyware and Adware.  Next we’ll take a look at some good uses for Spyware, the history behind why Spyware originated, and then some options for the victims of Spyware.

Spyware

Spyware refers to a software program that is installed on a PC to track the PC user’s activity in some way.  The installation may have been known and accepted by the PC user, or, as in many cases, completely hidden.  Once installed, the Spyware may be doing something as innocent as just logging websites visited or something much worse like copying keystrokes to online forms (i.e. passwords and account numbers!).  Many times, if successful, the Spyware will upload to the publisher’s system the data it cleverly recorded.  There are many different types of Spyware and here are the most common:

• Trojans – This classic Spyware application installs itself on your PC usually after “tricking” you into launching an executable file.

• Keyloggers – These nasty little Spyware programs record your actual keystrokes to send back to “homebase” for malicious use.

• URL Recorders – This Spyware records were you’ve been surfing on the web!

Adware

Adware, somewhat separate from the Spyware mentioned above will need a bit more discussion to differentiate.  Essentially, Adware is an advertising program that is either installed on your PC to work in conjunction with other applications or is embedded in another application the user downloads.  The first version is a bit more deceptive and could be more malicious then the later.  An example of a stand-alone Adware application working in conjunction with another application would be software that is designed to trigger pop-up advertisements when you are surfing the web.  Were you aware that not all pop-up advertisements are triggered by the site you visit?  This type of Adware definitely fits the more malicious category and it is not unlikely that it be combined with some type of tracking Spyware.  The Adware’s primary job is to provide marketing material within the user’s eyeshot.  Much like the commercials you see on television, Adware will flash computer-based commercials at the user as they go about their computing.  Typically, the Adware is combined with an application (ads are embedded in the user interface) and the user was aware of what he/she was getting into.  Some examples of this may be a free piece of software (media player, e-mail client, etc.) for which the user has agreed to view ads in the lower left corner of the application in exchange for the low/no price.  On the surface this seems to be harmless.  In some cases it is not. If the Adware is also tracking and reporting information, the user typically doesn’t know this upfront and the Spyware label can easily be applied.