Spyware

Spyware is malware designed to observe rather than disrupt. It runs silently in the background, collecting data such as websites visited, messages sent, passwords entered, contacts, and location data, and periodically sending this information to an attacker-controlled server.

Spyware ranges from relatively benign adware (collecting browsing habits for targeted advertising) to highly sophisticated stalkerware tools used in intimate-partner surveillance, to commercial 'zero-click' spyware deployed by nation-states against journalists and activists.

For most users, spyware arrives through app downloads from unofficial sources, phishing links, or bundled with free software. Signs of infection include unexpected battery drain, increased data usage, slow performance, and unfamiliar apps. Antivirus scans and factory resets are the typical remedies.