Internet Security
Sonoma County, San Francisco North Bay, Ca. USA

Spyware

is software that runs on a computer without the explicit permission of its user. It often gathers private information from a users computer and

 sends this data over the Internet back to the software manufacturer.
Adware is software that runs on a computer without the owner's consent, much like spyware. However, instead of taking information, it typically runs in the background and displays random or targeted pop-up advertisements. In many cases, this slows the computer down and may also cause software conflicts.