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What is Adware/Spyware and what do I need to know?

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From Symantec:
Adware: "Programs that secretly gather personal information through the Internet and relay it back to another computer, generally for advertising purposes. This is often accomplished by tracking information related to Internet browser usage or habits."

Spyware: "Stand-alone programs that can secretly monitor system activity. These may detect passwords or other confidential information and transmit them to another computer."
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