Spyware: Difference between revisions

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Spyware is a form of malware designed to gather information from the infected device. Spyware comes in many different shapes and forms and may be installed intentionally or unintentionally.

Spyware is a form of malware designed to gather information from the infected device. Spyware comes in many different shapes and forms and may be installed intentionally or unintentionally.<ref name=":1" />

In some circles, some may qualify non-malware software as spyware, such as [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]], and [[Google]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Petrino |first=Gene |title=The Data Big Tech Companies Have On You |url=https://www.security.org/resources/data-tech-companies-have/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2025 |website=security.org |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref> owned software due to the large quantity of data these corporations collect from its users, though others disagree with that qualification, due to the user having technically consented to this espionage.

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Malware with deeper level access to your device has more potential for harm, which is a reason some are cautious of [[Kernel level driver|Kernel Level Drivers]].

Some "free" services, such as [[Google]] services(check here for more info: [[List of Google products]]), often come at the cost of user data being collected to be sold for profit and/or to be used as training data for [[Artificial intelligence]].

Some "free" services, such as [[Google]] services(check here for more info: [[List of Google products]]), often come at the cost of user data being collected to be sold for profit and/or to be used as training data for [[Artificial intelligence]].{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}

The Legally collected data may also just be diagnostic data or just a way to make things "more convenient"(like with cookies).

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*Internet-protocol(IP) addresses

*Browser Type

*Device Type

*Device Type{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}

==Why it is a problem==

Spyware, as the name suggest, spies on the device, which contains the user's data. Spyware is inherently negative for users' privacy. As companies like [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]] and [[Google]] are collecting more information on consumers(either by legal or illegal means), they make users less secure & more susceptible to data breaches/leaks.

Spyware, as the name suggest, spies on the device, which contains the user's data. Spyware is inherently negative for users' privacy. As companies like [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]] and [[Google]] are collecting more information on consumers(either by legal or illegal means), they make users less secure & more susceptible to data breaches/leaks.{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}

==Types(Illegal/Malware)<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Spyware? Definition, Types, And Protection |url=https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/spyware |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jan 2026 |website=Fortinet.com |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref>==

=== [Add more stuff here in a consumer rights context(talk about very little control or attacks on consumer rights)]: ===

==Types(Illegal/Malware)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=What Is Spyware? Definition, Types, And Protection |url=https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/spyware |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jan 2026 |website=Fortinet.com |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref>==

#Adware: This type of spyware monitors user activity to then sell that data to malicious advertisers.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Incomplete}}
-Spyware is a form of malware designed to gather information from the infected device. Spyware comes in many different shapes and forms and may be installed intentionally or unintentionally.
+Spyware is a form of malware designed to gather information from the infected device. Spyware comes in many different shapes and forms and may be installed intentionally or unintentionally.<ref name=":1" />
 In some circles, some may qualify non-malware software as spyware, such as [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]], and [[Google]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Petrino |first=Gene |title=The Data Big Tech Companies Have On You |url=https://www.security.org/resources/data-tech-companies-have/ |url-status=live |access-date=21 August 2025 |website=security.org |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref> owned software due to the large quantity of data these corporations collect from its users, though others disagree with that qualification, due to the user having technically consented to this espionage.
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 Malware with deeper level access to your device has more potential for harm, which is a reason some are cautious of [[Kernel level driver|Kernel Level Drivers]].
-Some "free" services, such as [[Google]] services(check here for more info: [[List of Google products]]), often come at the cost of user data being collected to be sold for profit and/or to be used as training data for [[Artificial intelligence]].
+Some "free" services, such as [[Google]] services(check here for more info: [[List of Google products]]), often come at the cost of user data being collected to be sold for profit and/or to be used as training data for [[Artificial intelligence]].{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}
 The Legally collected data may also just be diagnostic data or just a way to make things "more convenient"(like with cookies).
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 *Internet-protocol(IP) addresses
 *Browser Type
-*Device Type
+*Device Type{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}
 ==Why it is a problem==
-Spyware, as the name suggest, spies on the device, which contains the user's data. Spyware is inherently negative for users' privacy. As companies like [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]] and [[Google]] are collecting more information on consumers(either by legal or illegal means), they make users less secure & more susceptible to data breaches/leaks.
+Spyware, as the name suggest, spies on the device, which contains the user's data. Spyware is inherently negative for users' privacy. As companies like [[Microsoft]], [[Meta]] and [[Google]] are collecting more information on consumers(either by legal or illegal means), they make users less secure & more susceptible to data breaches/leaks.{{Citation needed|date=20 Jan 2026|reason=Placed so i(or other people) can look up additional sources in order to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines.}}
-==Types(Illegal/Malware)<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is Spyware? Definition, Types, And Protection |url=https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/spyware |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jan 2026 |website=Fortinet.com |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref>==
+=== [Add more stuff here in a consumer rights context(talk about very little control or attacks on consumer rights)]: ===
+==Types(Illegal/Malware)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=What Is Spyware? Definition, Types, And Protection |url=https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/spyware |url-status=live |access-date=19 Jan 2026 |website=Fortinet.com |type=Uses text to communicate information(with some additional imagery)}}</ref>==
 #Adware: This type of spyware monitors user activity to then sell that data to malicious advertisers.