About Spyware/Grayware Parent topic

Your clients are at risk from potential threats other than viruses/malware. Grayware can negatively affect the performance of the computers on your network and introduce significant security, confidentiality, and legal risks to your organization.

Types of Grayware

Type
Description
Spyware
Gathers data, such as account user names and passwords, and transmits them to third parties
Adware
Displays advertisements and gathers data, such as user web surfing preferences, to target advertisements at the user through a web browser
Dialers
Changes computer Internet settings and can force a computer to dial pre-configured phone numbers through a modem
Joke Programs
Causes abnormal computer behavior, such as closing and opening the CD-ROM tray and displaying numerous message boxes
Hacking Tools
Helps hackers enter computers
Remote Access Tools
Helps hackers remotely access and control computers
Password Cracking Applications
Helps hackers decipher account user names and passwords
Other
Other types not covered above

How Spyware/Grayware Gets into Your Network Parent topic

Spyware/grayware often gets into a corporate network when users download legitimate software that has grayware applications included in the installation package.
Most software programs include an End User License Agreement (EULA), which the user has to accept before downloading. Often the EULA does include information about the application and its intended use to collect personal data; however, users often overlook this information or do not understand the legal jargon.

Potential Risks and Threats Parent topic

The existence of spyware/grayware on your network has the potential to introduce the following:

Types of Risks

Type
Description
Reduced computer performance
To perform their tasks, spyware/grayware applications often require significant CPU and system memory resources.
Increased web browser-related crashes
Certain types of grayware, such as adware, are often designed to create pop-up windows or display information in a browser frame or window. Depending on how the code in these applications interacts with system processes, grayware can sometimes cause browsers to crash or freeze and may even require a system reboot.
Reduced user efficiency
By needing to close frequently occurring pop-up advertisements and deal with the negative effects of joke programs, users can be unnecessarily distracted from their main tasks.
Degradation of network bandwidth
Spyware/grayware applications often regularly transmit the data they collect to other applications running on your network or to locations outside of your network.
Loss of personal and corporate information
Not all data that spyware/grayware applications collect is as innocuous as a list of websites users visit. Spyware/grayware can also collect the user names and passwords users type to access their personal accounts, such as a bank account, and corporate accounts that access resources on your network.
Higher risk of legal liability
If hackers gain access to the computer resources on your network, they may be able to utilize your client computers to launch attacks or install spyware/grayware on computers outside your network. Having your network resources unwillingly participate in these types of activities could leave your organization legally liable to damages incurred by other parties.