Spyware, adware and malware are all similar to each other, with each one attacking user's privacy in a different way and with varying purposes. Spyware is used by different intruders to either track internet usage information for advertising or to steal personal information and sell it which could lead to identity theft.

In a study done in an IDC based out of Massachusetts it was predicted that money spent on internet security from spyware will jump from $12 million in the U.

During 2004 there were significant strides in the battle against spyware which will change the future of the invasive threats. The Federal Trade Commission and the United States Congress addressed several issues involving spyware in an effort to minimize the threats coming from the quickly growing industry. Before these spyware issues were brought to government attention spyware was known to be nearly anything that was an internet related threat.

Helping users have quicker internet surfing speed, Straight2You released at the beginning of 2004 a web surfing acceleration tool. The tool was designed not to give users false promises but to provide those who have a 56K connection quicker internet speed.

Straight2You said their acceleration tool is not intended to log or sell any of the users' personal information as many similar tools do.

In early 2005 Webroot Software released its State of Spyware Report which was conducted by Webroot and Earthlink. In the survey over 4.6 million computer systems were scanned during 2004 and the results have shown how threatening spyware has become.

It was suggested that more than 90 percent of all computers with internet connections are infected with spyware.

Simply put, spyware is programs installed in computers without the user's knowledge to track internet usage and submit advertisements based on the information gathered.
Spyware is commonly picked up by downloading and using one of the many freeware or shareware programs. Some forms of spyware get in just by visiting a web site, although this form is usually a small, tracker cookie that can easily be removed by cleaning out all cookies.

An adware parasite by the name of Bargain Buddy is predicted to have been created by eXact advertising. It works to collect your usage information and sends it to the intruders who will user the information to target you with advertisements they have dubbed appropriate based on your online habits.

Its like ads made just for you. Most times Bargain Buddy must be installed manually by the user but in some instances it was found on computers in files that installed themselves automatically.

The United States House of Representatives recently passed the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act, or the SPY Act. The act requires any company that may be installing spyware in your computer to first make the user aware of its presence. Failing to give PC users the knowledge that spyware is being installed will cost the violator up to $3 million in fines.

Spyware consists of unwanted programs that are installed on your computer by numerous means so it can log and use information about your internet habits. Spyware is capable of overtaking a user's browser, which will direct it to unwanted start pages or cause crashes.

You computer will gradually slow down as spyware continues to build in the system.

In the fight against privacy invasions by spyware the TrekEight company announced in 2004 that their software designed to find and eliminate spyware, SpywareNuker, has reached 6 million users. Most commonly used for advertising and marketing purposes, spyware gets into your computer and tracks your computer and internet usage information. With this knowledge the intruder targets product specific ads to you based on you online purchases and sites visited.

The United States House of Representatives recently passed the Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act, or the SPY Act. The act requires any company that may be installing spyware in your computer to first make the user aware of its presence. Failing to give PC users the knowledge that spyware is being installed will cost the violator up to $3 million in fines.