Spywares con in all different shapes, sizes and color. Every spyware has atleast two variants and no two spywares are the same ever. Spywares, based on their features are categorized into various groups, to help differiante them and to help understand, what exactly are they capable of doing. This, a two series guide, discuses the various types of spywares out there.
#1 Adware
The most rampant, most widely infecting piece of spyware out there is the Adware. Adware in the simplest terms, is a software that showers your computer screen with a million types of, unwanted, irritating and annoying advertisements, using pop ups, redirects and other such techniques.
#2 Browser Helper Object
Almost all BHOs or Browser Helper Objects aren't safe, with some exceptions. Normally Browser helper objects are dynamic linking libraries or .DLL files that are executed by your Internet Explorer browser. Most toolbar's that you may use, like Hotbar, with your Internet Explorer are considered as browser helper objects. Some browser helper objects, are capable of tracking your internet activiy, keep an eye on your internet or web usage and are even capable of recording and transmitting your personal and proprietary information.
#3 Commercial RAT
Commerical Remote Administration Tool or RAT are not always safe, such Commercial Remote Administration Tools are used to remotely administer and monitor a user's personal computer, without his or hers prior consent and knowledge, this may result in loss of passwords and may leave the innocent users almost personal information to be used in inappropriate ways. The Commercial Remote Administration Tool can render your computers complete control to a hacker, where by he or she can control almost everything that goes on your computer, including shutting down programs, deleting files and stealing of all information(including personal and financial information) stored on your hard drive. Commercial RATs are the most dangerous of the spyware lot out there.
#4 Data Miner
Data miners are software programs that are responsible of collecting your data from your computer and transmitting to a complete third party(third party in many cases turn out be huge corporations mainly engaged in market analysis, etc). Cookies can be data miners, but they are not capable of gathering much information and are practically harmless. Most such cookies are treated as Spyware.
#5 Dialer
Dialers are today's commercial tools that are used by many pay-per-minute companies and various porn websites, to infect your computers. These form of spyware applications, cost you possibly hundreds and thousands of dollars. Dialers use your computer to call these pay per minute and log on for hours, making them hundreds of dollars in telephone charges. Dialers, may only be able to work if your computer is connected to your phone line.
#6 Downloader
Downloaders are spyware applications that can download and install different files and programs on your computer without notifying you or without taking your consent. Downloader applications while completely low risk spyware, can download various other viruses, spyware and malware, which can seriously damage your computers and the information within it. These usually being low risk are considered quite a threat.