Spyware

“Software that secretly gathers information about a person or organization.”

This is another very over used term. Spyware is commonly used to refer to any kind of malicious infection or program. In reality, spyware describes a program that will monitor and log information. This can entail logging key strokes and web surfing activity to name a few. For instance, you open your internet browser to check your bank account. The spyware will notice you have navigated to a site like that and will start to watch the keys you press while you log in with your password. This information is then sent to the spyware creator to be exploited later. This can lead to identity theft and loss of money or other assets.

Spyware can come in almost infinite forms. In most cases it will install via Trojan or other security exploits surreptitiously. Next, it will change settings in windows to allow itself to run freely on start up, hide itself, and protect itself from removal. These infections can in most cases be cleaned by an antivirus program such as Avast or AVG -Although an antivirus will clean the program out, usually the settings made by the spyware are ignored which can lead to re-infection. Most antivirus programs alone simply aren’t designed to clean these bad settings. That’s where specialized anti-spyware programs come into play. Common ones used are Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and Spybot Search & Destroy. They remove both the spyware program and its settings. These programs also look specifically for malware, adware, Trojans and rootkits, but that’s for another article. Keep your scanners (regardless of product name) up to date and scan with them often. You may not see warning signs until it’s too late when it comes to spyware.

Stay Tuned for more in this series!

Brad Button