If you use Internet Explorer, you are vulnerable to certain tricks that can be programmed into web pages. Some spyware also collects email addresses for spamming purposes. Other spyware is created by Internet criminals and tries to collect passwords, credit card numbers, etc.Īside from the obvious fact that it compromises your privacy, spyware also slows down your computer and network connection, and often causes your computer to act strangely or even crash.
Most spyware programs are created by advertising or data mining companies, and are designed to collect information such as what websites you visit, what programs are installed on your computer, and so forth. These days, most spyware is also adware, so we will talk about them together here. As with spyware, adware may hide on your system or it may be part of another program. Sometimes spyware conceals itself and runs secretly in the background, and sometimes it is a secret 'feature' of an otherwise useful or interesting program.Īdware is software designed to show you advertisements. Spyware is software that collects information from your computer and sends it secretly to someone else.
