SpyWare - How the Problem Begins

There are currently close to 1000 freeware and shareware programs that bundle adware and/or spyware products. These programs encompass all types of software-games, screensavers, educational software, helpful utility programs, text and image editors, and so on.

Adware, typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs downloaded from the Internet, gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge. Some file-swapping programs that have received significant coverage as distributors of spyware include:

• AudioGalaxy
• Limewire
• iMesh
• BearShare
• KaZaA
• Grokster
• Morpheus

Some of the spyware products that are bundled with these products include:

• HotBar
• CommonName
• eZula's Top Text
• Gator, SaveNow
• VX2-Transponder
• FlashTrack
• Surf+
• WebHancer
• Onflow
• Radiate/Aureate
• Conducent/Timesink
• Bonzi Buddy
• Cydoor
• WhenU.com
• New.net
• eAccelerator
• Web3000

Each of these products can have several additional spyware, Trojans, and viruses as part of the payload, such as ClickTillUWin, Comet Cursor, TSADBOT, ContextProTM, FlySwat, Nimda, and Mandragore.