History of Spyware

A Short History of Spyware

Normally, when we discuss history of anything in this world, it at least starts three to four hundred years before our time. This is where the computer world is unique. Most of you who are reading this, when you were younger maybe had only heard of the term computer let alone seen one. Or, perhaps a computer was a very special privilege for the lucky few and the “Internet” was just a figment of someone’s imagination. Therefore anything related to these wonderful machines has a very short legacy. This doesn’t mean they haven’t had a significant impact,and when it comes to spyware, the development has been swift and dangerous. Spyware is computer software which get installed on your computer without your consent or knowledge. Mostly, it is installed from the Internet when you download a free game, software, open an email attachment, etc. The function of spyware is as the the name suggests, to “spy” on you and your computer usage. Spyware operates silently and secretly in the background, collecting your personal information, recording your online habits, and reading your emails. It can communicate this valuable information to others who may use it maliciously. Spyware also uses a lot of resources, slowing down your PC or even damaging it.

The first use of the word spyware was in late 1995 when used by Usenet (one of the oldest network of internet users), while describing the new Microsoft business model with the intent to criticize their hardware. As the use of internet was not common at that time, nor was spyware common in the market, the term didn’t see any more development for a few years. At the start of the new millennium, Zone Labs (a virus and spyware protection company) mentioned the term in relation to their Zone Alarm Personal Firewall, a software to protect users while online. Thus, spyware got the definition that we know today. In 2005, a study was conducted by AOL and the National Cyber Security alliance which showed that 61% of users have been infected by spyware and out of those 61%, 92% didn’t even know that they were infected. This lack of user awareness has really helped the spyware producers flourish in recent times. Another aspect that has contributed heavily to the rise of spyware is the widespread use of Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Spyware is more of a threat for a PC using Internet Explorer not only because it is one of the more popular browsers, but also because it comes bundled with the Windows. Because of this close relationship, spyware can more easily access and take control of the operating system.

There has been legislation introduced to stop spyware. Some acts of spyware are prohibited under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, introduced in 1986, and modified as recently as 2001.
In 2005, the Internet Spyware Prevention Act was passed, so that creators of spyware can now be imprisoned. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has also sued companies spreading spyware and has won some huge cases - most notably against Seismic Entertainment resulting in two million-dollar judgements. As time goes on, more and more laws are being developed against spyware and the situation is improving.

So what does the future hold for spyware? Unfortunately, spyware is evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Lucky for the computer user, anti-spyware technology is advancing just as rapidly. Spyware Doctor from PC Tools is the most comprehensive, effective spyware remover program available. Inexpensive to purchase, easy to download, and simple to use, Spyware Doctor identifies, eliminates, and prevents spyware from infecting your computer. It performs regular scans and updates itself constantly to be on-guard against the latest threats. As spyware gets more sneaky, Spyware Doctor is right there ready to attack.

Spyware has managed to do a lot of damage in its short-term existence. Fortunately, there are dedicated individuals on the other side of the fence working diligently to provide tools to defend us. Anti-spyware such as Spyware Doctor will continue to offer us advanced protection against this online villain.