Spyware is a broad category of malicious software� intended to intercept or take partial control of a computer’s operation without the user’s informed consent . While the term taken literally suggests software that surreptitiously monitors the user, it has come to refer more broadly to software that subverts the computer’s operation for the benefit of a third party.

Spyware differs from viruses� and worms� in that it does not usually self-replicate. Like many recent viruses, spyware is designed to exploit infected computers for commercial gain. Typical tactics furthering this goal include delivery of unsolicited pop-up advertisements ; theft of personal information (including financial information such as credit card numbers ); monitoring of Web-browsing activity for marketing� purposes; or routing of HTTP� requests to advertising sites. (more…)