Spyware is software that collects personal information from your computer without your knowledge. It can track the sites you visit or access information like user names and passwords. Even worse, it can send this information to a third party without your permission.

How do you get spyware? It is downloaded to your computer from Web sites you visit or invites itself in unannounced when you agree to download another program. Often a mention of spyware is a small part of the long and complex user agreements required before downloading a program, and when you agree to download the program, you inadvertently agree to host spyware.

Spyware is software that collects personal information from your computer without your knowledge. It can track the sites you visit or access information like user names and passwords. Even worse, it can send this information to a third party without your permission.