Spyware is any software that secretly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without user's knowledge, most of time for advertising purposes.

Unprotected cookies and monitoring devices are installed on your computer when you go online every time. Once installed, the spyware tracks user activity on the Internet and transmits that data in the background to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses. Or, it can be used for malicious activities like tracking your keystrokes to intercept passwords and credit card numbers or stealing information from your private files. Besides of stealing your privacy, spyware steals from the user by using the computer's memory resources and bandwidth while it sends data back to the spyware's author through the user's Internet connection. It may be resulted in system crashes or general system instability as the spyware runs in the background.

In contrast, Adware is any software offered as free to people who do not want to pay for software. In general, most functions of the freeware are enabled but you will see sponsored advertisements while you are running the software. For example, in free version Eudora, the popular e-mail program will display an ad window in the program while the program is being used. In order to avoid spyware, keep you from downloading free software without reading the site's privacy statement, install a strong anti-spyware program that removes or disables the existing spyware on your computer and works well with your system security, and do not open emails from unknown people.

You can keep your privacy safe and your PC running smooth without losing system resources with the right anti-spyware solution for removing and detecting spyware installed.