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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