Software installed on a computer system without the knowledge of the user is known as the spyware. Although such software are installed for reasons that are not meant to cause any harm or damage, they could possibly end up exploiting the privacy of the users, thus causing a tendency of being abused.

The spyware software installed for reasons that are not meant to cause any damage are known as tracking software.

In order to keep a watch over their employees’ activities over the Internet at the workplace. These spyware software are installed in corporate systems. At home, parents and guardians may install something known as a keystroke logger that would keep a track of the child’s activities over the Internet. An online advertiser makes use of cookies to check out the web pages visited by the user to determine advertising strategies. If the user whose Internet activities are being monitored is made aware of the fact that the data is being collected and is told that they hold the ability to know with whom this data so collected is shared with, then this program of collecting data cannot be referred to as a spyware.

When the tracking software is overused, the privacy of the individual is significantly affected. A simple example is when a smartphone is affected and attacked by a mobile spyware software that is installed side by side with third-party applications, then the device’s microphone and its camera can be utilized to spy on the activities happening around and record browsing activities, phone calls, and track the phone owner’s current location.

Often, spyware software are tough to be detected. The first signs that a computer system has been infected by a spyware software is noticed when the processor performance drops or the speed of the network slows down. The first indicator that the mobile phone device has been infected by the spyware software is that the battery life diminishes and the data speed also slows down. Whenever these things happen, a user can have sufficient reason to suspect the intrusion of spyware in the system.

An antivirus software should be installed that comes with an anti-spyware protection feature should be utilized to detect and to get rid of the spyware in the system. To completely avoid the situation of getting a spyware into the system, users must download their software from trustworthy and reliable sources. While installing a software, it is mandatory that all the terms, conditions, and disclosures are carefully read through. Be careful to not click on to any pop-up advertisements.

Not all programs that collect data are spyware software. However, this is believable as long as the user is entirely aware as to what kind of data is being collected and whom is it shared with. Software vendors can work on improving their product and also providing better support to their customers by reporting or tracking information of their users. This is the prime reason that marketing firms usually object on calling their services as spyware software.

A very popular method of drawing a distinctive line between legal data collection and illegitimate software is the use of cookies that are used to store data of users to understand their devices and internet behaviors.

The spyware software is virtually unregulated and seldom contain mechanisms that allow users to oversee the information that is being collected and the means as to how the collected data is shared.

Users should adjust their browser security settings. Now, browsers let users to adjust security levels. Some browsers can also carry out firewall functions against all fraudulent activities, and sometimes even in the case of cookie installation.