White Papers

CMOR (Council on Marketing and Opinion Research)

Malicious Software: Spyware, Adware and Malware
In the normal course of computer use, data is exchanged with remote servers. Usually
bundled with free programs or surreptitiously downloaded onto a computer, programs known
as “spyware” gather and report information about a computer user without the user's consent
or knowledge. Similar applications called “adware” deliver pop-up advertisements; programs
called “malware” alter personal computer settings and can significantly harm a computer.  
 
Conversely, cookies, which are small, innocuous text strings downloaded from Web sites
into temporary folders, track users anonymously and may save provided information, login
information, for a user's benefit.

Malicious Software: Spyware, Adware and Malware (pages: 1)