Spyware and viruses belong to the same family of malicious software. However, there is a slight difference. Spyware is a malware type that conceals itself in your device to collect data. On the other hand, a virus is malware that spreads from one device to another.

Is it possible to detect spyware?

Yes, you can detect and remove malicious spyware on your device with anti-malware software and advanced internet security software.

How can I know my device is infected with malware?

Certain signs can indicate your device has a spyware infection. For instance, its operating system can perform poorly and be sluggish. Also, popup ads may start to appear, and applications freeze or crash.

How does spyware work?

Spyware is malware that silently tracks your internet usage, social media activity, emails, and much more. Usually, it is used to collect personal data to sell to third parties like advertisers.

What are the problems caused by spyware?

A spyware infection is hazardous, and threats can range from mild inconveniences to severe damages. For example, attackers can steal your personal information for identity theft. Also, it can drain your computer’s performance.

What is Spyware, and How Do You Remove It?

Sneak peek at spyware threat

Spyware is a malware type that spies on you through various ways like keyloggers, rootkits, infostealers, etc. It can also hijack your browser, take control of your device remotely or commit identity theft. That is why we recommend you use a strong antispyware program, among adopting other security measures, to stay safe.

Many cyber threats exist these days that can compromise your security and privacy. They come in many forms, and spyware is one of the most prevalent. This malware type collects and stores your information silently without your knowledge. Unfortunately, the malware is difficult to detect once it infiltrates your device because of its covert nature.

Read on to find out what spyware is, how it works, how to remove it, and much more.

What is spyware?

Spyware is malicious software that infiltrates your devices to collect and share your data with third parties without your knowledge or consent. It is also used for legitimate purposes like advertising. However, in this case, we will focus on the spyware used for malicious reasons like stealing data.

The problem is that spyware surveillance exposes you to data breaches and abuse of your private information. Additionally, the software will affect your device’s performance, making it extremely slow.

Knowing how spyware works and the common types will help you to stay vigilant.

What spyware does to your device

Spyware is designed to examine your data and other activities on your device. Usually, it will take the following actions.

Infiltration – This can be done in various ways, like file attachments, malicious websites, or packages.
Collect data – Once it gets into your device, the spyware will gather your data through screen captures, keystrokes, tracking codes, etc.
Share stolen data – Sends the data to the attacker or shares directly with third parties.

The collected information is general, like your online browsing behavior. However, the spyware can be modified to perform more specific tasks. Some personal information spyware can collect includes account PINs, login credentials, credit card numbers, email addresses, and keyboard strokes.

How spyware infects your devices

Because of its covert nature, spyware conceals itself and operates silently unseen. Usually, it is hidden within normal websites and downloads.

Bundled software packages or bundleware is a common way of delivering spyware. This is where the malicious software embeds itself on a legitimate program you would download.

Some spyware installs on your device without any notice. However, others will be included in licensing agreements of legitimate programs. So, when you agree to the terms, you voluntarily and unknowingly install the spyware on your device.

Some of the common ways spyware can infect your device include;

Software downloads

Some downloads you do on the internet, like file-sharing applications, can install spyware on your device. For example, some free games have harmful elements like viruses and keyloggers.

Drive-by downloads

In this case, a popup window or website automatically downloads malicious spyware on your device. Sometimes you can get a warning, or the software can request permission, but there won’t be a warning in most cases.