What kind of sites have spyware

Spyware can be installed on any device - a PC or laptop, a tablet, iPhone, or Android smartphone. Computers were the original focus for spyware creators, but now spyware can be found taking advantage of vulnerabilities in Android phones, iPhones, and tablets, too. In this article we'll describe the types of spyware you might want to look out for, tell you how to detect them on your computer or smartphone, and show you how to eradicate them. We'll also give you some tips about how to detect spyware on both Android phones and iPhones, so that whichever kind of mobile device you own, you're covered.

This should give you everything you need to know to protect your privacy. Different types of spyware are focused on monitoring different types of information. For instance, some are relatively innocent and simply want to track your web browsing behavior to send the data to advertisers. Some track your contacts or geographical location.

Others are plainly criminal in intent, focusing on the theft of network credentials and passwords. Let's look at the main groups of spyware to see what they do and how they do it:. Some banking spyware even cooperates with similar malware to drop a double payload.

For instance, Emotet 'dropped' Dridex. Even when PC owners eradicated Emotet, the other spyware could still have been left running.

Increasingly, different types of spyware come bundled with each other, so you're not facing a single threat but a multiple and complex one. All these spyware programs are dangerous - but fortunately there are ways to guard against them. How does spyware arrive on your computer or smartphone? It can arrive in several ways. First, it could be installed deliberately by someone else to track you.

That's one reason you need to use the screen lock capability on your phone - don't leave it sitting around and open to interference. More likely, the spyware accompanied a program or app that you installed yourself. Spyware often accompanies programs that are disguised as useful software, such as download managers, registry cleaners, and so on.

Sometimes, it comes packaged with video games. It may even come packaged in a software bundle with real, useful programs. Though both Apple and Google do their best to prevent spyware hitting their operating systems, packages with spyware included have made it through to the Google Play Store - so you can't be too careful. Spyware might be propagated through phishing - sending emails with links that, when clicked on, download the spy program.

You might also be infected by spyware via a spoofed website - one that purports to belong to a reputable organization but is actually a fake and whose links will start downloading spyware or installing it on your browser.

Can you avoid getting spyware? A few basic tips will reduce the likelihood that you'll end up with spyware on your computer or smartphone:. Even if you can't find the spyware program, you may be able to detect signs of it. Although you can search online domain lists for unsafe websites, a browser plugin is by far the most convenient way to automatically identify and avoid malicious websites.

Service: website ratings based on user experience and domain listings. WOT does more than alert users about potential spyware and viruses.

It's an all-around service that rates sites based on general trustworthiness, vendor reliability, privacy, and child safety. The ratings are conducted by its huge international community.

Users can leave comments to further support their rating and point out specific problems with the respective page. Apart from user input, the site also relies on external resources, such as listings of phishing sites published on PhishTank. The rating symbol appears both in search results and directly in the browser. The complete rating, including user comments, is available on the 'scorecard'.

If a user attempts to open a website with a bad rating, WOT issues a warning, which has to be discarded, before the site can be accessed. WOT also offers a small online tool where you can manually 'check the reputation of your favorite website' based on its URL. Alternatives: To my knowledge there are no comparable alternatives to WOT. These may include things like system login credentials or other such critical passwords.

Infostealers — When a PC or other device is infected with this type of spyware, it can provide third parties with sensitive information such as passwords, usernames, email addresses, log files, browser history, system information, spreadsheets, documents, media files, etc.

Infostealers usually take advantage of browser security vulnerabilities to collect personal data and other sensitive information. Banking Trojans — Like info stealers, banking trojans take advantage of browser security vulnerabilities to acquire credentials from financial institutions, modify transaction content or web pages, or insert additional transactions, among other things.

Banks, online financial portals, brokerages, digital wallets, and all sorts of other financial institutions can fall prey to these banking trojans. The digital environment comes with its inherent risks, as is the case with these spyware or other forms of malware.

Fortunately, however, various people and tools can help you, and your company stays protected from these online threats. What is Spyware? What is Malware? Types of Malware Viruses which are the most commonly-known form of malware and potentially the most destructive. They can do anything from erasing the data on your computer to hijacking your computer to attack other systems, send spam, or host and share illegal content.

Spyware collects your personal information and passes it on to interested third parties without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is also known for installing Trojan viruses. Adware displays pop-up advertisements when you are online.

Fake security software poses as legitimate software to trick you into opening your system to further infection, providing personal information, or paying for unnecessary or even damaging "clean ups".

Browser hijacking software changes your browser settings such as your home page and toolbars , displays pop-up ads and creates new desktop shortcuts. It can also relay your personal preferences to interested third parties. Facts about Malware Malware is often bundled with other software and may be installed without your knowledge.