What is a Spyware?
Spyware and adware Threats and solutions
Spyware is Internet jargon for Advertising Supported software (Adware).
It is a way for shareware authors to make money from a product, other
than by selling it to the users. There are several large media companies
that offer them to place banner ads in their products in exchange for
a portion of the revenue from banner sales. This way, you don't have to
pay for the software and the developers are still getting paid. If you
find the banners annoying, there is usually an option to remove them,
by paying the regular licensing fee. Why is it called "Spyware"
?
While this may be a great concept, the downside is that the advertising
companies also install additional tracking software on your system, which
is continuously "calling home", using your Internet connection
and reports statistical data to the "mothership". While according
to the privacy policies of the companies, there will be no sensitive or
identifying data collected from your system and you shall remain anonymous,
it still remains the fact, that you have a "live" server sitting
on your PC that is sending information about you and your surfing habits
to a remote location.....
Are all Adware products "Spyware"?
No, but the majority are. There are also products that do display advertising
but do not install any tracking mechanism on your system. These products
are not indexed in our database. Is Spyware illegal?
Even though the name may indicate so, Spyware is not an illegal type of
software in any way. However there are certain issues that a privacy oriented
user may object to and therefore prefer not to use the product. This usually
involves the tracking and sending of data and statistics via a server
installed on the user's PC and the use of your Internet connection in
the background.