Although it sounds like a James Bond gadget, it’s actually a type of malware that infects your PC or mobile device and gathers information about you, including the sites you visit, the things you download, your usernames and passwords, payment information, and the emails you send and receive. But relax we’ve got your back with all you need to know about what spyware is, how you get it, what it tries to do to you, how to deal with it, and what to do to avoid future spyware attacks.

It’s easy to fall prey to and can be hard to get rid of, especially since you’re most likely not even aware of it.

In fact, it’s one of the oldest and most widespread threats on the Internet, secretly infecting your computer in order to initiate a variety of illegal activities, including identity theft or a data breach. Prying eyes often follow your activity-and your personal information-with a pervasive form of malicious software called spyware.

When you go online, don’t assume that your privacy is secure.

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