Spyware: Difference between revisions

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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]].{{~~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~~.}}

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goswami |first=Swish |date=16 Feb 2022 |title=What Does Big Tech Actually Do With Your Data? |url=https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2022/02/16/what-does-big-tech-actually-do-with-your-data/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Jan 2026 |website=forbes.com}}</ref>

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~~{{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.}}~~

*Device Type

==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.{{~~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~~.}}

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Jan 2026 |title=Data Breaches 2025: Biggest Cybersecurity Incidents So Far |url=https://www.pkware.com/blog/recent-data-breaches |url-status=live |access-date=31 Jan 2026 |website=pkware.com}}</ref>

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

=== Spyware from a Consumer Rights Perspective: ===

----

==== (Lack of Transparency From Companies): ====

==== (Lack of ): ====

==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>==

@@ 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]].{{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.}}
+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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goswami |first=Swish |date=16 Feb 2022 |title=What Does Big Tech Actually Do With Your Data? |url=https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2022/02/16/what-does-big-tech-actually-do-with-your-data/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Jan 2026 |website=forbes.com}}</ref>
 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{{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.}}
+*Device Type
 ==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.{{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.}}
+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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Jan 2026 |title=Data Breaches 2025: Biggest Cybersecurity Incidents So Far |url=https://www.pkware.com/blog/recent-data-breaches |url-status=live |access-date=31 Jan 2026 |website=pkware.com}}</ref>
-===[Add more stuff here in a consumer rights context(talk about very little control or attacks on consumer privacy)]:===
+=== Spyware from a Consumer Rights Perspective: ===
+----
+==== (Lack of Transparency From Companies): ====
+==== (Lack of ): ====
 ==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>==