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With Pegasus spyware making headlines in recent months, the spyware threat is higher than ever. Although Pegasus is more likely to target journalists, similar tools are widely used to steal user and business data. Spyware infection not only causes devastating financial losses but also jeopardizes systems’ health and future safety. In this article, we’ll go over the spyware definition, discuss the types of spyware, and describe how such attacks work. Additionally, we’ll explain how to remove spyware to help you protect your data from malicious actors.
Let’s begin with the spyware definition. What is spyware? It’s a type of malicious software designed to penetrate a user’s device, collect data, and transmit it to third parties without the user’s consent or even knowledge. Spyware is meant to secretly enter the device’s systems and track user information and online activity to steal and sell user data—or use it otherwise for monetary gain.
The term spyware dates back to the 1990s and early 2000s, when the vast majority of netizens had no perception of cybersecurity, let alone a solid personal security posture. However, nowadays, the importance of spyware prevention has become increasingly vital, both for individuals and businesses. While traditionally malware used to target desktop and laptop computers, present-day device usage has made the ubiquitous mobile phone highly susceptible to viruses.
In fact, the recent Gen Threat report revealed a 25% increase in mobile threats across adware and spyware categories. Other research conducted by Zimperium suggests that nearly 37% of mobile malware is spyware, attributing it to the insidious nature of this type of virus. Running in the background of the computer or mobile operating system and hiding from the user, spyware authors can gradually collect sensitive data without the user ever finding out.
Before we delve into how to prevent spyware, let’s investigate the most impactful problems caused by spyware, including financial, business-related, and even those associated with mental health.
The biggest cybersecurity threat of spyware attacks is data theft and identity theft in conjunction with financial losses, with sectors like healthcare data security facing particularly severe consequences due to confidential patient information. Spyware programs can collect sensitive data—including emails, online banking information, and various user credentials—and then use this to steal one’s identity. Criminals can later rely on the information gathered through a user’s computer or mobile device to steal their funds via unauthorized transactions, bank accounts, and credit card fraud.
Another unfortunate consequence of data breaches is potential damage to a computer or mobile device. Malicious spyware drains system resources, which can lead to poor performance, constant crashes, and reduced battery lifespan. Since these systems were not designed with user experience in mind, they tend to take up a lot more memory, processing power, and internet bandwidth, compared to common software. As a result, organizations and individuals have to rely on infected devices that lag, crash, and overheat, leading to permanent damage that requires professional cybersecurity services to fully remediate.
Spyware tools can also manipulate the way users browse and search, offering fraudulent page results and leading users to malicious websites. Spyware infection can alter browser settings, bombarding users with pop-up ads and other unwanted disruptions, making the overall experience worse.
As many victims of spyware attacks shared, going through a data breach can considerably affect one’s mental health. They assert the feeling of being constantly watched and observed, and how this leads to self-isolation, paranoia, anxiety, and loss of trust.
If you notice your devices operating slower than usual, it’s a sign to look into it. Take a look at some common indicators that could point to the spyware infection:
There are numerous ways to penetrate the system, creating a slew of spyware threats, including adware, Trojan horses, rootkits, and many others. In this section, we’ll focus on the top types of spyware that your computer or mobile device can be susceptible to.
Adware is a form of spyware intended to monitor a user’s online activity to identify which products and services they’re interested in. Once identified, spyware hackers document and sell this data to advertisers or serve malicious ads directly to the user. Adware usually finds its way to a victim’s device via full software bundles, making it highly challenging to detect.
The system then degrades through extensive data collection and constant ad serving, jeopardizing the device even more. While seemingly benign, adware generates the communication channels for malicious actors to inject more dangerous software.
Keyloggers, also known as keystroke loggers, are examples of spyware that record the keystrokes that a user makes on their devices. Ranging from passcodes and private text messages to credit card information and other sensitive data, keystroke loggers can even capture mouse clicks and take screenshots. The confidential credentials taken from the infected device are then recorded and saved into an encrypted log file.
The repercussions of keylogger attacks can be quite severe, involving complete identity theft, bank account takeover, corporate espionage, and plenty of blackmail opportunities. Even users who have two-factor authentication are at risk, as advanced keyloggers can capture authentication codes and tokens, making traditional security practices obsolete.
Taking its name from Greek mythology, Trojan malware is a type of spyware disguised as legitimate software. Hidden in software patches, various applications, and even games, Trojan files can take full control of the user’s devices and begin secretly opening backdoors for other malicious programs. More advanced Trojan spyware appears quite believable, with modern user interfaces, legitimate code signing, and genuine functionality.
Trojan spyware attacks can completely compromise one’s entire system, steal their data and identity, install additional malware, and hijack the device. This type of Trojan virus is called remote access Trojans (RATs), capable of taking over the device and accessing native features like microphones and cameras. One of the most notable examples of spyware is Pegasus, an RAT that famously infiltrated the popular messaging platform WhatsApp in 2019.
While keyloggers track keystrokes, system monitors are designed to capture everything that goes on on a user’s computer or mobile device. From applications, emails, social media sites, and messages to time logs, system monitors record every single activity on the infected device. The virus gets in by penetrating the operating system, which allows it to freely capture user actions in real time. This type of spyware hides best inside a tool with elevated permissions—for example, parental control tools, performance monitoring apps, etc.
Due to the high privileges that users grant to the system that monitors malware, the threat level can be dangerously severe. This virus can enable corporate espionage, identity fraud, data theft, and other gross violations of privacy.
Infiltrating via infected downloads and phishing emails, rootkits are notorious types of spyware that manage to hide deep in the system. So much so that even reinstalling the operating system may not get rid of the virus. Rootkits are sophisticated malware that find their way into the deepest parts of devices, making core system modifications and becoming almost invisible to standard security tools.
Concealed deep in the system’s backend, rootkits are concerningly dangerous. They can make it seem that the system is clean, which makes the spyware prevention and removal exceptionally challenging. Moreover, this type of malware can even harm the underlying hardware, especially creating a serious problem for IoT hardware security.
Both legitimate and fraudulent websites leave tracking cookies to monitor a user’s activity and aggregate identifying data. This can include information such as what links the user followed, how long their browsing sessions were, which search queries they had, and which items they purchased. While first-party cookies are benign user identifiers we’re all used to, third-party cookies can be spyware that shares user data with malicious actors.
Similarly to tracking cookies, Red Shell is also technically benign software intended for game developers. Installed in PC games, this spyware tracks user activity to collect feedback and improve the gaming experience. The software is distributed across multiple popular games without user consent, gathering data that goes beyond standard gaming analytics. Although legitimate software on paper, Red Shell fails to provide transparency, posing potential risks of data exposure.
Before you learn how to protect yourself from spyware, let’s examine how these malicious software systems work and how they penetrate your devices.
First, let’s identify the most common ways malicious spyware gets hold of your device. Among the most ubiquitous types of spyware attacks are phishing emails—emails intended to trick users into opening malicious links or downloading infected software. Visiting fraudulent or spoofed websites is another common tactic that can be used to collect login credentials and even install spyware. Malicious pop-up ads and banners can also infect a device with a spyware program, sometimes even if the user doesn’t click on them or interact with them.
Other common tactics spyware criminals use are creating malicious applications and other tools that imitate legitimate software to trick users into downloading them. After the installation, hackers can monitor user activities and steal their data. Additionally, attackers can exploit security vulnerabilities in a user’s network to secretly install spyware.
Also, mobile spyware can make its way to your device via fake app downloads, clicking on malicious links and attachments, and even trusting third parties with your device. However, the biggest threat to a device’s security is using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. These password-free networks commonly found at coffee shops and airports are notoriously risky for infecting the user’s device with spyware.
After successfully infiltrating a device, spyware must now disguise itself to avoid detection. Common scanning and anti-spyware software look for specific patterns that are quite familiar to hackers. For this reason, they usually obscure strings to hide their intentions, reorder logic to hide malicious instructions, and apply anti-debug checks to prevent security code analysis. Other methods of obfuscation include encryption wrappers that hide spyware inside multiple layers and utilizing runtime decryption.
Once installed and undetected by antivirus software, spyware silently runs in the background, taking note of user activity. These malicious payloads collect user browsing history, keystrokes, private messages, GPS location, login credentials, and other confidential data that can be used to steal one’s money, personal information, and identity.
After all the data has been collected and recorded, it’s then sent to hackers’ servers or sold to third parties. Using your data, they can steal your identity, take control over bank accounts and internet profiles, commit crimes on your behalf, and more. In some cases, the aggregated information is released gradually so as not to cause noticeable disruptions to the user’s systems and avoid detection.
Finally, let’s try to answer the question: How do you prevent spyware? From basic tips and phone-specific advice to enterprise-level recommendations, we’ll offer a comprehensive guide to virus and spyware protection.
First and foremost, rely on reputable anti-malware software with spyware protection, ideally with proactive capabilities powered by AI for cybersecurity for enhanced threat detection. Although you will find a wide range of free software, it’s highly recommended to invest in a paid tool to ensure the best coverage. In fact, you should be wary of free software in general—as the saying goes, if the app is free, you are the product. In addition to anti-spyware software, consider downloading a pop-up blocker to avoid incessant ads and prevent adware scams.
Don’t automatically consent to cookies when browsing, as some malicious websites might trick you into giving access to your identifier data. Under the GDPR laws, websites need user consent to collect data, so only accept cookies from pages you can trust. Also, consider installing an anti-tracking browser extension that restricts constant tracking of your online activity.
Stay vigilant when opening your emails and never open suspicious file attachments or follow untrustworthy links. As phishing attacks remain at the top of the biggest cybersecurity threats that businesses deal with, it’s imperative to carefully monitor your correspondence.
Finally, keep your devices updated to the latest operating system versions to ensure hackers can’t exploit security vulnerabilities in your systems. The longer you run an outdated OS version, the higher the chances that someone will be able to infiltrate your computer or mobile device.
How can you protect yourself against spyware when using a mobile device? As already mentioned, phones are just as susceptible to cyber attacks as computers and laptops. To improve spyware protection on your mobile device, stay away from unofficial app stores which are riddled with spyware and other malicious mobile apps. Additionally, only download software produced by official businesses. For example, some hackers disguise their spyware inside apps that look identical to popular platforms like Facebook and TikTok. Before downloading, read the publisher’s name and make sure it’s the app’s creator.
Also, modern apps immediately bombard users with permission access. While for some apps, access to the camera or location may be warranted, in some cases, there is no clear need. Think about the app’s purpose and functionality, and only grant permissions required to use the application.
Here’s how to remove spyware if it’s already on your device:
In addition to the cybersecurity tips mentioned above, organizations need to take more steps to safeguard their valuable data.
Aside from installing anti-spyware tools, consider setting up a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your sensitive data for all your network traffic—particularly important for organizations managing blockchain security implementations. Also, install a firewall to add an additional protection layer for your data.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is always a solid addition to an organization’s security posture, offering significantly reduced security threats across all business operations. Basically, MFA requests an extra step or two to let a user into the system, either with tokens, fingerprints, one-time codes, and more. The vast majority of modern applications offer MFA to their users, so all you need to do is enable it and set it up.
Create copies of your data and store them on different media types to avoid the biggest problems caused by spyware—namely data loss. Additionally, conduct regular security audits to remove unused apps, update software, and run penetration tests. Develop a cybersecurity risk management strategy to identify your current vulnerability exploits and mitigate them proactively.
The importance of good security posture cannot be overstated, so educate your staff on cybersecurity trends and offer some essential tips. According to CISA, 80% of organizations had at least one victim of phishing. To minimize spyware threats, teach your employees about phishing email indicators to avoid the most common type of attack. Explain your current security policies and set up password managers to regularly update login credentials.
Our Fortune 500 client, a global leader in hardware and software solutions, relies on NIX to safeguard one of the most critical stages of its product lifecycle — cybersecurity code analysis. With every new release, security and compliance are paramount, and our role is to detect and eliminate vulnerabilities before they can turn into costly risks or reputational damage.
To support this, NIX assembled a dedicated team of security specialists who combine advanced tool-based scanning with in-depth manual code reviews. This dual approach enables us to uncover even the most complex vulnerabilities across proprietary software and third-party integrations. Through iterative reviews and continuous feedback, we ensure that security validation is seamlessly embedded into the client’s development cycle.
The results speak for themselves: a 90% vulnerability detection rate, 73% fewer post-release security fixes, and 75% faster issue resolution. By reducing exposure, accelerating secure launches, and reinforcing brand trust, NIX helps the client maintain its position as a market leader while keeping customer data safe. You can read the full case study with detailed processes and outcomes here.
If you want to learn more about how to remove spyware, refer to NIX, a company recognized for cybersecurity excellence. Our team of engineers follows secure software development life cycle guidelines and produces high-performance solutions with a security-first mindset. Get in touch with NIX to bolster your current security posture and prevent spyware attacks.
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