CAPE TOWN - Spyware is designed to monitor the activities on a phone, steal data, and transmit it to a third-party for some sort of profit.
Once installed, spyware gains access to existing data on your phone and proceeds to oversee future activity without your consent.
Spyware can monitor phone and SMS conversations, website and app activity, and GPS location, and more. It does this in the background of the device and usually goes unnoticed.
There are two categories: Domestic Spyware and Commercial Spyware
Domestic Spyware is software that is usually purchased and installed by computer owners to monitor the Internet behavior on their computer networks. Employers use this software to monitor employee online activities; some family members use domestic spyware to monitor other family members etc.
Commercial Spyware also known as adware is software that companies use to track your Internet browsing activities. Companies that track your online habits often sell this information to marketers who then hit you with targeted advertising ads that match your browsing interests and would most likely appeal to you.
However, beyond intruding on your privacy, spyware can be used as a tool to perpetuate crimes, such as identify fraud.
Here is a list of more spyware you should watch out for:
1.Trojans & viruses
Trojans and viruses can compromise your computer by your data being copied, distributed or destroyed. A virus is similar but has the additional power to replicate itself, causing damage to multiple computers. Both of these vicious pieces of software fall under the definition of spyware because the user is unaware of and would not condone their true purpose.
2.Keyloggers & password recorders Keyloggers & password recorders
Password recorders track typed passwords and Keylogger software records all of your keystrokes, not just passwords.
3.Facebok Viruses
The social media giant remains to be the top target for frauds who want to deceive people. One of the latest Facebook viruses used to infect accounts and use them to send out dozens of private messages or publish posts containing a malicious link to a “Private Video.” This link led to a site that urged the victim to install a malicious plugin “in order to watch the video.” However, a new Facebook virus strain has been spotted in 2016.
Nowadays, scammers create fake phishing Facebook pages, called Ads-Info, Team Advert or similarly, and use them to repost posts of random Facebook users or pages. Scammers ask the victim to verify the account via a provided link. The link leads to a site that asks to enter Facebook login details. As soon as the victim enters the required data, scammers hack the account.
4. Tech Support Scam viruses
Tech support scam viruses display warning messages via victim’s web browsers, urging to call “certified Microsoft technicians” for help due to fake reasons. Alerts that such malware displays traditionally try to scare the victim by stating that the system is infected with viruses such as Zeus, that personal data can be lost and that there are hundreds of other security issues that the user needs to take care of immediately.
Such viruses always provide a “toll-free” tech support scam number and ask the victim to call them. Then they try to sell useless software or convince the victim to give them remote access to the computer.
5. Delta-Homes.com virus
It is a browser hijacker, also known as browser redirect virus. Delta-Homes.com redirect virus infects the main web browsers and makes them respond slowly or even crash sometimes.