Spyware

A type of malware designed to surveil a device without the user knowing about it. As a term, spyware is used in a variety of ways, including in reference to mercenary spyware designed by private companies for government agents to monitor targets, and commercial spyware that monitors how employees or students use computers. Spyware can have multiple capabilities including downloading data from a device, tracking the devices location, secretly turning on the microphone and camera, and reading encrypted text messages.