what exactly is spyware and in what way does it damage your pc?

Question

plus, what have people got to gain by sending this s**t to our computers?

Answer 1

Software that sends information about your Web surfing habits to its Web site. Often quickly installed in your computer in combination with a free download you selected from the Web, spyware transmits information in the background as you move around the Web. Also known as "parasite software," "scumware," "junkware" and "thiefware," spyware is occasionally installed just by visiting a Web site.

Merchants place ads with spyware advertisers because they feel their promotions are focused. In fact, many feel that the Internet has opened up the most intelligent marketing system the world has ever seen. Merchants say they are targeting prospects who are really interested in their products, and spyware vendors argue that as long as they treat users anonymously, they are not violating privacy.

There are also spyware programs that keep changing the home page in the browser to a particular Web site or just keep popping up ads all the time (see adware). Nevertheless, once you detect spyware, it can be eliminated, albeit with difficulty sometimes.

Spyware blockers can detect an invasion of spyware into your computer and have become as popular as antivirus programs.

Hope this info was useful!
Good Question!

Answer 2

Spyware is a class of malware. Malware is an umbrella term used to describe all types of malicious software than can be instaled on your system as a result of security flaws or user action. The main categories are:

1. Viruses. These often get in via security vulnerabilities. The Linux community and Microsoft release security updates on a regular basis but there are a great many viruses (also referred to as Worms) that attack computers through known and patched vulnerabilities when a user has not installed the current patches. Alternative methods include disguising an executable file (that is to say, a program) as a word document or a picture. Anyway, viruses are different from other malware in that the reproduce themselves and spread from computer to computer.
2. Adware. Annoying but less harmful. These pop up ads, often for adult sites
3. Key loggers. These are very dangerous. They log every keystroke and report it to someone else. They will steal your logins, your credit card and if possible, blackmail you. Keyloggers are nasty. A variant of this that is becoming more popular is a camera logger where your webcam is controlled remotely. This is generally done by paedophiles looking for indecent images of children. both of these are classes of spyware
4. Browser redirectors - which will filter your search results to give certain sites more traffic
5. Bots. These are rather crafty. They will sit unobtrusively monitoring an external resource, often an IRC chat channel, and do nothing much until they are commanded to do so. When they get the command, they will spring in to action and get the computer to do what the hackers want - typically sending thousands of SPAM emails before they system is shut down

I recommend Windows Defender as a good free solution

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Answer 3

Spyware are programs that often appear on your PC after visiting web pages that automatically place these on your PC via browser without you knowing.
Normal Spyware does not damage your PC, but it gathers information on you, i.e. which websites you frequent, what products you buy and (not often, though) crossing into identity theft, capturing address and credit card details - the captured data is then send to the creator of the spyware - all of that without you knowing.
There is a free program available that is very good a removing spyware from PCs.

It is called AdAware from Lavasoft. You may want to get the free personal edition.

Answer 4

Spyware is the same as malware, or call it spam, phising and
others. It is a code that enters your computer sent by a hacker
to find your credit card number, bank account and yes, it can
clean out the whole Hard Disk in some versions. You must
delete all mail that you can‘t recognize the sender, without
opening it. Download a spyware identifier that cleans anything
that will damage your computer. Go to Google and enter
"free spyware" and download one that that is compatible with
your problem and with your computer.

Answer 5

spyware only infects the software aspect of your computer not the actual hardware. But you always need software to protect you system stability with a virus scan, spyware program, and a firewall. Macafee is good for VS and FW and PC Tools is good for the SW.

Answer 6

Spyware does not damage your computer (unlike a virus). Its function is to gather data on your computer use without you knowing.

It can be fairly innocuous, for example a tracking cookie, which will monitor your surfing habits for marketing purposes (so if you look at loads of car websites, for example, you'll get lots of junk advertising for cars).

More sinister are keyloggers, which detect which keys you press on your keyboard, and can be used to obtain personal information such as passwords, bank details etc.

There are some good programs to combat these - ad-aware, and spybot are two (free) examples.

Answer 7

spyware is a program and/ file that can be used to send info back to a server or site with your web surfing habits for example.
i.e pop ups based on what sites or topics you visit.
can also be used in some cases to change settings on your pc.
i would say damage but it will affect how your pc performs and what it does.
what is gained is traffic to the server and ads you get perhaps.

Answer 8

"Your every action online could be being recorded without your explicit permission.

Certain companies through their software installs are placing "Media Plugins", "SpyWare", "Backdoor Santas" or "Trojans" on your computers without your explicit permission and then potentially forwarding information about software, browsing & purchasing habits back to their own data collection facilities.

Most of these Adbots, or spyware programs DON'T collect specific information about you, but only report general demographics, and therefore are NOT stealing your name, credit card, or other personal information. But these capabilities do exist. Also its good not to wrongly accuse all Adware in this argument as proper Adware is a serious revenue model for many software companies that allows you to get products for free, and used correctly does not pose a significant privacy threat.

The information gathered by these companies is potentially being sold and combined with other databases to build up profiles of individual web users, we believe this is primarily for direct marketing purposes. And to quote Gilles Lalonde "...what I do in the privacy of MY own HOME is MY business and MY business alone, like what you personally do in the privacy of YOUR own HOME, is YOUR business and YOUR business alone. Software authors that use spyware do not care about anyone's privacy. They breach our personal privacy and spoil our Internet experience ".

Answer 9

a spywere is not harmful to your computer, but it can spy on u like if u use ur bank acount on ur internet the thing will know wat ur pass is, just get some programe to scan and delete the spywere

Answer 10

spy ware can spy your computer it can see all the activity you do on your computer that is why it slow your computer and takes your speed on spying you