Spyware

Subversive Technologies & Countermeasures

Definition: Spyware is used as a general term to talk about any uncommanded, hidden, disguised or deceptive software that infects a computer for malicious purposes that are not in the interests of the useer. More precisely spyware is malicious software that spies on the user and sends back information such as keystrokes, passwords, browsing history or credit card information to it's deployer.

However, Spyware is used as a term to include any malicious program, such as adware, trojan horses, keyloggers, dialers as well as spyware proper.