The A to Z of security

Spyware

Spyware is software that covertly tracks and monitors the actions of a PC user, using the internet to secretly send this intelligence to a third party. It will get onto a user's machine through any number of underhand tactics.

At its most malicious the application will steal passwords and personal data such as financial information related to internet banking or ecommerce, facilitating fraud and identity theft.

Security from A to Z

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A is for Antivirus
B is for Botnets
C is for CMA
D is for DDoS
E is for Extradition
F is for Federated identity
G is for Google
H is for Hackers
I is for IM
J is for Jaschan (Sven)
K is for Kids
L is for Love Bug
M is for Microsoft
N is for Neologisms
O is for Orange
P is for Passwords
Q is for Questions
R is for Rootkits
S is for Spyware
T is for Two-factor authentication
U is for USB sticks/devices
V is for Virus variants
W is for Wi-fi
X is for OS X
Y is for You
Z is for Zero-day

Spyware is now smart enough to recognise when a user is on a transactional website and will use that as a prompt to start relaying keystrokes or screenshots back to its master.

This issue is confused by the grey area of adware, which is often also installed on a user's machine without their full awareness. However, adware, though highly controversial is by and large legal and will normally only relay information such as surfing habits in order to serve annoying pop-ups and redirect browser sessions. Its intent appears to be to annoy the user by bombarding them with unwanted ads rather than to defraud them.

Both spyware and adware applications will go to some lengths to disguise their installation. Often they are bundled with a download the user does want, or thinks they want.

Speaking last year, Tori Case, director of security management at CA, said: "What one person calls spyware, another calls adware, another calls surveillance software and yet another says it is not anything. That has led to a lot of confusion. If we could all agree, that would allow us to focus our energy on making better products and actually protecting against this stuff."

A movement against spyware has, however, been gathering momentum - in 2005 a coalition was formed with the aim of creating a definition of spyware and developing guidelines to control its use. Early this year the coalition finalised a set of detection guidelines.

For more on spyware, read the silicon.com Cheat Sheet.