Spyware Software
The first documented use of spyware software occurred in 1995 and was actually placed on computers for the purpose of documenting activities of the user. Surprisingly many employers installed the software to keep track of their employees actions on the computers. The software was designed solely for use by Microsoft’s computer programs and contained information that allowed the software to override user demands. However the good intent of the software quickly failed and by 2000 the founders of spyware released a statement claiming it as a total loss. By 2005 reports were made that over 60% of all Microsoft users had contracted some sort of spyware by mistake, additionally 92% claimed they did not know of its presence until it had caused permanent damage to their hard drive. In 2006, merely eleven years after its making, spyware was announced as one of the top security threats to computers running Microsoft programs. In addition to computers with Microsoft computers that use Internet explorer as the primary browser have also become vulnerable to the software.
Unlike other malware viruses, spyware software does not directly spread through all the programs of the computer. Instead it is installed, often through an un-approved download, directly to the computer’s hard drive where it grows larger and becomes more powerful. Most spyware can be traced back to unsecured internet sites or downloads and often the software tricks users into thinking it is something else. Often times spyware takes on the names of computer programs that are considered safe, the user then downloads the program and is surprised when it is actually spyware. This method allows users to detect the presence of spyware easily because there is notably a problem with the download. However another common way spyware is downloaded is through piggybacking. This term refers to the ability of spyware to attach itself to other computer programs so when the program is downloaded so is the spyware. This method often allows the spyware to go undetected until serious damage is caused to the hard drive of the computer.
Spyware is not an easy thing to discover or remove from a computer. Many computer infected with spyware software will display unusual changes that were not approved by the operator. This often includes a change in the internet’s homepage or tool bars. Additionally spyware can disable programs on your computer from opening or it can allow other malware viruses to be transferred to your computer easily through pop ups and unsecured sites. To remove spyware once it has been detected on a computer system it can often take weeks to remove. Even the most effective spyware removing programs must retrace the steps of the original spyware and erase everything it has changed or effective. Because spyware can cause extensive changes the removal of the software can take anywhere from hours to weeks depending on the extent of the damage.