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Spyware

Spyware is any software installed without authorization that collects user information like credit card numbers, passwords, and internet activity. It can slow devices by using resources and generating pop-ups. Spyware enters through apps, attachments, or malicious websites and is difficult to detect. Maintaining cybersecurity like using antivirus software, updating systems, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads helps prevent spyware. If infected, users should disconnect from the internet, check for unwanted programs, run antivirus scans, and use antispyware tools to remove threats. Common examples of spyware include CoolWebSearch, Emotet, and smartphone spy apps.

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Darshan Padmapriya
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41 views4 pages

Spyware

Spyware is any software installed without authorization that collects user information like credit card numbers, passwords, and internet activity. It can slow devices by using resources and generating pop-ups. Spyware enters through apps, attachments, or malicious websites and is difficult to detect. Maintaining cybersecurity like using antivirus software, updating systems, and avoiding suspicious links and downloads helps prevent spyware. If infected, users should disconnect from the internet, check for unwanted programs, run antivirus scans, and use antispyware tools to remove threats. Common examples of spyware include CoolWebSearch, Emotet, and smartphone spy apps.

Uploaded by

Darshan Padmapriya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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spyware

Any software can be classified as spyware if it is downloaded without the


user's authorization
 It invades the device, steals sensitive information and internet usage data,
and relays it to advertisers, data firms or external users.
Spyware is one of the most common threats to internet users. The primary
goal of spyware is usually to obtain credit card numbers, banking information
and passwords.
But spyware can also be used to track a person's location, as is the case with
stalker ware
Spyware can be difficult to detect; often, the first indication a user has that a
computing device has been infected with spyware is a noticeable reduction in
processor or network connection speeds and -- in the case of mobile devices
-- data usage and battery life.
Spyware can make its way onto a device without the end user's knowledge via
an app install package, file attachment or malicious website. In its least
damaging form, spyware exists as an application that starts up as soon as the
device is turned on and continues to run in the background. Its presence will
steal random access memory and processor power and could generate
infinite pop-up ads, effectively slowing down the web browser until it becomes
unusable
Additionally, spyware can change the computer's dynamic link libraries, which are
used to connect to the internet, resulting in connectivity failures that can be
hard to diagnose.
All of this information can be gathered and used for identity theft or sold to third
parties. Information can be collected using keyloggers and screen captures.
Spyware can also secretly make changes to a device's firewall settings,
reconfiguring the security settings to allow in even more malware. Some forms
of spyware can even identify when the device is trying to remove it from the
Windows registry and will intercept all attempts to do so. 
How do you prevent spyware?
Maintaining strict cybersecurity practices is the best way to prevent spyware.
Some best practices include the following:

 only downloading software from trusted sources;

 reading all disclosures when installing software;

 avoiding interactions with pop-up ads;

 staying current with updates and patches for browser, operating


system (OS) and application software;

 not opening email attachments or clicking on links from unknown


senders;

 using only trusted antivirus software and reputable spyware tools;


and

 enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.

If users determine that spyware has infected the system, they should perform
the following steps:

1. Disconnect the internet connection.

2. Check the device's programs list to see if the unwanted software is


listed. If it is, choose to remove it from the device. After uninstalling
the program, reboot the entire system.

3. If the above step does not work, run a scan of the system using a
reputable antivirus software. The scan should find suspicious
programs and ask the user to either clean, quarantine or delete the
software.
4. The user can also download a virus removal tool or antispyware tool
and allow it to run through the system.

Some antispyware tools include the following:

 Malwarebytes is an antimalware and spyware tool that can remove


spyware from Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Android and
iOS. Malwarebytes can scan through registry files, running
programs, HDs and individual files. Once a spyware program is
detected, a user can quarantine and delete it. However, users cannot
set up automatic scanning schedules.

 Trend Micro HouseCall is another antispyware tool that does not


require user installation, so it uses minimal processor and memory
resources and disk space. However, like Malwarebytes, users
cannot set automatic scans.

 Windows Defender is a Microsoft antimalware product that is


included in the Windows 10 OS under Windows Defender Security
Center. The software is a lightweight antimalware tool that protects
against threats such as spyware, adware and viruses. Windows
Defender includes features such as protection against phishing sites,
real-time threat detection and parental controls. Windows Defender
users can set automatic quick and full scans, as well as set alerts for
low, medium, high and severe priority items.
What are common examples of spyware?
Well-known examples of spyware include the following:

 CoolWebSearch uses security vulnerabilities found in Internet


Explorer to take control, change settings and send browsing
information to spyware authors.
 DarkHotel is a targeted spear phishing spyware that selectively
attacks business hotel visitors through the hotel's Wi-Fi network.

 Emotet was one of the most prevalent threats in the 2010s. It acted


as a Trojan that stole banking credentials from its victims.

 Gator is commonly found in file sharing software. It monitors a


victim's web browsing habits to present the user with better-targeted
ads.

 TIBS Dialer disconnects the user's computer from local phone lines


and connects it to a toll number designed for accessing pornographic
websites.

 Zlob downloads itself onto a computer to record keystrokes and


search a user's browsing history.

In addition, smartphone spy apps enable different people to track the phone
user's activity. While most of these tools were created with the intent of letting
parents monitor their child's phone use, their abilities have been grossly
abused. These apps act as mobile spyware and enable external users to
access the phone's microphone and camera to view their surroundings, listen
in on phone calls and access the phone's GPS location, passwords and
mobile apps. Some well-known spy apps include Spyera, FlexiSPY and
TheOneSpy.

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