What is spyware?

Anyone who surfs the Internet not only leaves traces, but also likes to be spied on. But what is spyware - and is it legal? What is the difference to viruses - or is there one? We tell you what the current legal and knowledge status is. The word itself comes from the English: "spy" means spy, and "ware" is short for "software".

Spyware - what is it actually?

• Spyware is a computer program that is used to spy on your PC and therefore you and your data.
• Without you even knowing it, companies collect data about your preferences, your surfing behavior and other personal data in order to be able to offer you targeted advertising and products.
• Such data is also gladly sold on virtually.
• In the strict sense, these are not viruses, because spyware itself does not attack your computer and is more passive than directly harmful.
• On the other hand, your computer is indirectly damaged by opening virtual doors, changing structures and installing unwanted programs.
• Therefore, many virus scanners also refer to spyware as PUS: "potentially unwanted software" = "potentially unwanted software".
• In any case, the dramatically growing spyware problem has not yet been legally clarified - especially since spyware can also function and occur in very different ways.
• However, you can easily protect yourself: we have compiled the top 100 anti-spyware programs for you.
• The free tool "Spybot - Search and Destroy", for example, offers an effective spyware distributor.

You can find out exactly how you can remove spyware with the Ad-Aware program in our next practical tip.