Spyware: Background and Policy Issues for Congress

The term spyware generally refers to any software that is downloaded onto a computer without the owners or users knowledge. Spyware may collect information about a computer users 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 users 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.