Spyware: Who’s Watching the Kids?
Spyware, defined as any software that employs a computer user’s Internet connection without the user’s knowledge or explicit permission, is so widespread that it is now estimated to be on four of every five home computers.
Spyware grew out of useful, legal technology, used by legitimate companies. Many groups use such technologies properly and legally. But there are also plenty of uses that may not be legal—courts and legislatures are still debating that—and at best are not OK.
Regardless of legality, little good ever comes from spyware. Among the numerous varieties are advertising servers, which barrage your computer with repeated pop-up or banner ads; browser hijackers, which bring up unselected sites or change your browser settings; key loggers, which track any information typed into your computer; and auto-dialers, which cut your local Internet connection and automatically dial a toll call to reconnect to another service, typically an adult-only site.
At best, a computer infected with spyware will annoy you and your students with unwanted ads or slow computer performance. At worst, your browser will become unusable, your computer will crash, or someone will secretly gather information about you and invade your privacy.
