The word “spyware” used to refer to different equipment used by people in spying work. This included tiny cameras, grappling guns, and other gadgets. During early 2000, the development of computer technology has caused different changes in the meaning of terms. This gave way to a whole new meaning for the name “spyware”. How exactly did “spyware” come to mean what it means today?

The tale goes that a man named Steve Gibson discovered one day that certain types of advertising software have been installed in his computer system without his knowledge or permission. He claimed that these software collected private information from the computer without the user’s knowledge. Finally, he retracted those claims but he still insisted that companies should not covertly install any software in a private system.

Not surprisingly, Gibson then introduced the first anti- spyware program, called OptOut. Since then, a lot of companies have followed suite and now offer their own spyware protection software.

What are the different types of spyware?

1. Adware – these programs are designed to deliver advertisements straight to your computer… whether you want them or not. This can prove to be a bit of a hassle. Imagine this scenario: you are trying to do some serious research for your work, unfortunately, every time you try to start your web browser, an advertisement window pops up and prevent you from doing any real work until you click on whatever link the window offers. Annoying, true?

This type of spyware is made by different companies to promote various products. In fact, some companies even make use of this type of spyware to promote anti- spyware tools. That’s human nature for you.

This type of spyware often tracks your web searches and then uses this information to promote its products. If, for example, you search for “games” in the internet, this type of spyware will immediately show you any of a company’s products related to games.

2. Data miner –this type of spyware is designed mainly to gather data about a user. It records the keystrokes of an end user, meaning it can gather any type of data that you enter using your keyboard. This means that every type of individual information –from credit card numbers to what you had for breakfast- will be known to other people. Your whole identity could be stolen through this type of spyware.

Of course, not all types of data miners are used for identity theft. In fact, some varieties of this type of software are used to gather data for anonymous surveys. Some varieties of this type of spyware do not gather personal data, but rather use them to compile information about the current trends of internet activity.

3. Dialers – this type of spyware can cause some serious financial harm to you. This type of spyware messes with your internet connection and reroutes it through a very expensive phone line. Depending on your actual connection, this type of spyware may also cause your internet activities to slow down drastically.

These are just some of the most common varieties of spyware. Unfortunately, there are many more varieties out there. In fact, more types of spyware are developed daily by people who either want to make a quick buck or who have a lot of spare time in their hands. By knowing more about them and trying to understand how they work, you can take the steps necessary to eliminate them from your computer life.

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