Taken down to its simplest form and to be quite general, spyware is a software technology that assists in information gathering. The kind of information being gathered depends on how the spyware was written and what it was made to target. Once installed on a system, it can collect password data, bank and credit data, information on web surfing habits, email addresses, or just about anything else that you may consider a breach in privacy. This information is gathered from your computer and then relayed over the Internet to advertisers and any other interested parties, as allowed and directed by the piece of spyware. This definition, however, does not include or apply to all forms of software that fall under the heading of “spyware”.
The Internet can be a great place to visit and can contain a wealth of information that is made readily available at your fingertips, but like anyplace else, you must exhibit a certain degree of caution while making your way around. Wariness coupled with awareness can go a long way to help combat spyware.
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A common rebuttal as to not making a good effort in the area of system security is this common excuse: “I don’t keep sensitive data on my computer. Why would anyone care to hit my computer with spyware and malware?” Machines that can be easily compromised are usually turned into servants for launching larger attacks and flood their Internet connection as a result. In other words, your system will be quite easily turned into a zombie computer without adequate protection, which will go to hurt other computer users. Additionally, there can be a significant amount of data transferred while your computer is serving as this kind of host, and many ISPs have limitations on a user’s monthly bandwidth, which can include a speed cap or disconnection of service.
If you’re a firm believer in the argument that you “don’t have any important data on you machine,” just take into consideration that your computer has the potential for conducting illegal activities and privacy invasion. Like owning a car, owning a computer comes with certain responsibilities that must be fulfilled so that harm does not befall others on the information superhighway.
The first known recorded use of the term “spyware” reputedly appeared in a Usenet post on October 16, 1995 that took a humorous stab at Microsoft’s business model. The term “spyware” was applied to espionage equipment until its next appearance in 1999. Zone Labs used the term in a press release for their new Zone Alarm Personal Firewall software. From then on, the term “spyware” has been applied as we know it today. The first anti-spyware program, OptOut, was released in 2000 by Steve Gibson of Gibson Research, as the result of the growing problem of spyware. Other spyware removal and prevention tools have since surfaced.
Spyware almost always comes as “extra baggage” from sites providing “shady” content, such as pornography, warez, and game cheats. ActiveX pop-ups asking for permission for software modules to be installed is another method. They usually go hand-in-hand with sites containing “shady” or “underground” content.
Another large source of spyware comes from downloaded shareware or freeware programs. Licensing agreements included with downloaded software sometimes warn the user that some sort of spyware program will be installed along with the main software package. However, the spyware notices in licensing agreements are usually difficult to locate, as they are often seeded within lengthy, hard-to-read legal disclaimers. However, this doesn’t mean that all freeware and shareware programs contain spyware.
Some file sharing networks, such as KaZaa, have been flooded with all sorts of malicious files and programs, and what you may be downloading might not be what you think it is.
All in all, there’s no such thing as a “free lunch” when it comes to illegitimate software and “free” underground content.
As of now, spyware itself is not illegal. It is simply software that is freely downloadable off of the Internet. The only recognized form of illegal software is known as “warez”. However, this doesn’t make all of the activities performed by spyware legal. Some of them are quite illegal. Because of the array of illegal activities that can be spawned from spyware, the U.S. Courts have been tossing around the issue of spyware and its legality. No formal decision has yet been reached. There is, however, an Anti-Spyware bill floating around the U.S. Legislative system that is undergoing amendments.
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