What kinds of spyware are there?
Adware: Adware ranges from programs which display pop-up advertisements (even when you are not actively browsing the Internet) to others which hide in the background of your computer and collect data about your Internet browsing and spending habits. This latter kind of Adware is usually referred to as “BackDoor Santa” spyware. Adware is often bundled with freeware or file-sharing programs in order to further its distribution. Adware is usually considered just a nuisance.Malware: Malware is short for “malicious software” and aims deliberately to interfere with the normal operation of your computer. Malware includes such things as trojan horses, viruses, and worms. Two specific kinds of Malware include dialers and hijackers. A dialer is a program typically distributed by the ‘adult’ industry. When installed, the dialer will use your computer to dialup its own number, with the call getting charged to your phone bill. A hijacker program does such things as resetting a browser’s homepage to
Adware: Adware ranges from programs which display pop-up advertisements (even when you are not actively browsing the Internet) to others which hide in the background of your computer and collect data about your Internet browsing and spending habits. This latter kind of Adware is usually referred to as “BackDoor Santa” spyware. Adware is often bundled with freeware or file-sharing programs in order to further its distribution. Adware is usually considered just a nuisance. Malware: Malware is short for “malicious software” and aims deliberately to interfere with the normal operation of your computer. Malware includes such things as trojan horses, viruses, and worms. Two specific kinds of Malware include dialers and hijackers. A dialer is a program typically distributed by the ‘adult’ industry. When installed, the dialer will use your computer to dialup its own number, with the call getting charged to your phone bill. A hijacker program does such things as resetting a browser’s homepage t
