Spyware is an internet jargon for Advertising Supported Software (Adware). It is a way for shareware authors to make money from a product, other than by selling it to the users.

Why is it called Spyware? While this may be a great concept, the downside is that the advertising companies also install additional tracking software on your system, which is continuously "calling home", using your Internet connection and reports statistical data to the "mothership". While according to the privacy policies of the companies, there will be no sensitive or identifying data collected from your system and you shall remain anonymous, it still remains the fact, that you have a "live" server sitting on your PC that is sending information about you and your surfing habits to a remote location.....

 

Let's face it! Spyware or adware is a nuisance. Not only that, it is proliferating now like never before.

Spyware is software that is usually secretly installed on your system without permission. It tracks your sytem usage activity and reports it online to another party. Usually the information collected is not private information, but information such as your Web viewing habits and so forth. Still, you did not authorise this activity, and you don't want spyware!

Spyware can also "hijack" your system, causing annoying and unwanted popup messages even when you never open your browser. It can also change your default home page and add links to your favourites and desktop.

There are numerous free spyware removal utilities such as Ad-Aware and Spybot, and while these are reasonably effective tools at removing spyware they don't always work.