You are in the middle of researching for a very important paper which you need to finish today. And yet, your progress is hindered by the number of windows that keep popping out and announcing different products for sale. Beware! Your computer might have just been infected by a spyware.

Spyware is a spying device that allows the controller to gather and monitor information about the computer user's surfing habits. Spywares are usually used by unscrupulous companies to get information for the purpose of promoting their advertising campaigns. While a computer expert will be able to detect spyware in his computer, a simple computer user would not be so wise and would perhaps just curse his internet provider for the pop ups.

Spywares can easily infiltrate computers with internet connection because they are innocently bundled as part of free software perhaps, or a free internet service that the user downloads. Once it is installed in your computer, the spyware is able to get all information about the infiltrated computer and send such information to the spyware controller without the knowledge and consent of the computer user or owner.

While spyware is generally used for advertising campaigns, it is dangerous to a certain degree because it is capable of getting information on email addresses, the passwords of such emails and even the credit card number and other pertinent information about the user.

Not only that. Spywares are destructive and can be the cause of a computer losing its speed. This is so because spywares use the computer user's bandwidth when sending out the gathered information to the spyware source. This can further lead to the crash or in stability of your computer system.

Spywares can appear harmless to the uninitiated but it can take control of your computer and your system. It can read cookies, install other spyware programs and even change the settings of your default browser.

The proliferation of spyware programs has become a serious concern for internet users and even for the authorities. The ability of spywares to gather financial information about the user can lead to identity theft which can then be used unscrupulously when buying goods on credit. No matter what they say about it, spywares are malicious programs which should be controlled and the users or manipulators criminally charged for computer hacking.

There are anti-spyware programs that can protect your computer. However, how many computer users have actually installed anti-spyware programs in their units before they have been infiltrated by spywares?

Spywares can freely infiltrate your computers when you download music or video files that are usually free. Upon installing the program, the computer user unknowingly installs the spyware himself. Some spywares are installed through toolbars that users unknowingly use for getting new cursors or graphics.

While computer users view the installation of spywares in their units as illegal, spyware controllers argue otherwise. Spyware producers claim the installation is done with the consent of the user. Technically there are spywares that are bundled with legal options that are in fine print so that the users can just click them as a sign of agreement without bothering to read the contents.

There are States that have provided laws for prosecuting spyware producers or manipulators. These are laws that protect the computer users by providing that only the computer user or owner has the legal right to install programs or softwares in his computer.