Spyware

Short Description
Spyware is becoming more widespread as online attackers and traditional criminals … Technical solutions that combat spyware focus on finding, blocking, …

Website: www.us-cert.gov | Filesize: 106kb

Content
Spyware
US-CERT
Summary
This paper gives an overview of spyware and outlines some practices to defend against it.
Spyware is becoming more widespread as online attackers and traditional criminals use it as a
tool for crimes against individuals, businesses, and governments. Statutes banning spyware exist
in a number of states and Congress is considering national legislation.
Spyware can lead to financial loss, as in identity theft and credit card fraud, and it can also
reduce consumer’s confidence in online safety and their willingness to participate in modern
electronic commerce.
One approach to combating spyware is to make it less profitable for the criminals using it.
Technical solutions that combat spyware focus on finding, blocking, or removing spyware.
Overview of Spyware
Spyware is one type of malicious software (malware) that collects information from a computing
system without your consent. Spyware can capture keystrokes, screenshots, authentication
credentials, personal email addresses, web form data, internet usage habits, and other personal
information. Often, the data is delivered to online attackers who sell it to others or use it
themselves to execute financial crimes, identity theft, or use it for marketing or spam.
Software installed after the user has read and agreed to…