Spyware
What is it?
 

Our definition is any software that installs on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Any software that installs other software without your knowledge or consent. Any software that will not allow you to install the program you want without installing something else as well ..because this "something else as well, you can be sure, is the spyware component. Any software that collects data about you, private or otherwise, and stores that information in a database for any reason, without specifically telling you what it will do with that information. Any software that intentionally makes itself nearly impossible to remove by using normal procedures (Control Panel-->Add or Remove Program) or makes it appear that it is easy to uninstall by creating an entry in Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs only to leave behind its spyware components. Any software which hijacks your browser's start page and makes it difficult to change back to your preferred start page. Any software which changes your default search engine without your consent and displays skewed results based not upon what you're searching for but upon who paid the search engine company the most. Any program which automatically installs updates to itself without your knowledge or consent, or prior approval (other than via an incomprehensible EULA "End User License Agreement"). Any program which sells, rents, gives away, shares, or has the capacity to sell, share, rent, or give away information it has collected from your computer without also having the capacity to explicitly ask your permission before doing so. Any program which installs itself via a drive-by download or from a pop-up add where clicking "OK" downloads the software, where clicking "CANCEL" downloads it, and where closing the popup window by clicking the "x" at the top-right hand corner downloads it. Any program (other than 'cookies' which are not programs and are not spyware per se) which is recognized by legitimate software spyware removal tools as spyware. We also refer to such programs as scumware or trickware ...or "too-good-to-true-ware".

This definition is intentionally broad. It's meant to make you wary of many types of software and encourage you to use your own, good common sense before downloading anything. It is, more than anything our opinion. We hope you find it useful in your personal battle against spyware, scumware, and trickware.

2. How can you recognize it?

Your first, best, line-of-defense is your own common sense. The Internet, despite its rather altruistic distant past, is not a free candy store. There are billions, perhaps trillions, of dollars to be made and just like in real life, there are those out looking for the easy buck. If you see something advertised as free and it pops-up wherever you go, and the company is practically jamming the software down your throat to get you to install it; or it promises you things that seem too good to be true. Be suspicious. Take a look at the company offering it. If it's a big company and they're offering you something free, and you think they're just being nice, beware. You have a judgment call to make. Microsoft offers free things for your computer and they're a very big company. We don't consider their offerings to be spyware because the types of programs they offer are generally utilities or updates designed to make your Windows experience better.

The Excite Group, a large, publicly traded company, offers "SmileyCentral" AKA "FunWebProducts" free. Hmm...but they won't allow you to install "SmileyCentral" without "MyWebSearch" toolbar.(Note: The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is very close to banning such tactics as those kinds of tactics are typical of spyware). Excite Group/MyWay spends millions of dollars promoting their "free programs". This is an example where you really need to call upon your common sense and gut instincts despite the assurances they make of "No Spyware!". Why would a huge company give away something free and spend millions of dollars promoting it? Just because they like you so much? When is the last time General Motors gave you a car? Please...beware. Read the FULL EULA of products like "Name removed due to threat of lawsuit", SmileyCentral (AKA MyWay, AKA FunWebProducts) and don't believe every "No Spyware!" you see. Sometimes companies merely take advantage of the many definitions of spyware to make empty promises. Be careful.

(Note: These opinions are our opinions after seeing problems caused by software of this type and installing and removing software of this type. We are not referring to any particular software as spyware in the narrowest definition of it, We are warning you to be wary of software which forces you to install something you may not want in order to get something else you may want.)