Spyware (Part - 1)

A Spyware is any technology or software that gathers personal information of a person or the confidential information of a organization. A Spyware is a malicious application that is installed in the computer with or without the knowledge of the user. The Spyware, as its name suggest perform the function of a spy. It collects several information from the computer and send the information to the attacker. Some spywares allows the user to configure the victim's computer to his needs. The spyeare may be installed in to the computer without the knowledge of the user through the drive by download or by clicking the link on the pop-up window. But there are spywares available in the market which help the parents to track the sites visited by their children. As you may know that the browser stores the information about the sites you visited in the cookies. If the personal information about you are stored in the cookie, then cookie can be considered as a spyware. In the beginning stage the function of the spyware is just monitering the user. But as the time passes, more powerful spyware were introduced. There functions are not just limited to the simple monitering the user. It can not only collect the browsing habts of the user but can also install the software that will interfere with the normal operation of the computer. You may someetimes noticed that you cannot access the internet, but the data transfer occurs between your computer and the internet without your permission. That may be because of the spyware. Some people asks through the sites like yahoo answers, ibibo.com etc about the problem of the spyware redirecting the website. Even if they entered the correct website address, they are redirected to another site. This shows that your browser has compremissed with the spyware installed. As you may know, any personal information that is collected without the knowledge of the user by any means is a crime. Similarly the creaton and uasge of spyware that collects the personal information about the other people or organization is a crime. Many countries have made strict laws to prevent the spyware. Yet there are people creating the spyware, challenging the laws of their own nation.