Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress. Updated September 8, 2010

摘要

The term 'spyware' generally refers to any software that is downloaded onto a computer without the owner's or user's knowledge. Spyware may collect information about a computer user's activities and transmit that information to someone else. It may change computer settings, or cause 'pop-up' advertisements to appear (in that context, it is called 'adware'). Spyware may redirect a Web browser to a site different from what the user intended to visit, or change the user's home page. A type of spyware called 'keylogging' software records individual keystrokes, even if the author modifies or deletes what was written, or if the characters do not appear on the monitor. Thus, passwords, credit card numbers, and other personally identifiable information may be captured and relayed to unauthorized recipients.