Tangled Web: Undercover Threats, Invisible Enemies

The best-known example of an undercover threat is spyware, which first appeared around five years ago. Essentially, spyware is software that gets onto a computer's hard drive without the user's explicit and knowing agreement. In some cases, "Permission" for spyware to install itself is buried deep in the small print of a licensing agreement. In other cases, permission is not given at all. Once installed, the spyware secretly tracks the computer user's web browsing behavior, logs websites visited and passes this information on to advertisers - all with the consummate skill of a professional pickpocket.