In the virtual universe that the internet is, just like the real universe, good things can be bad. It all depends on how they are used.

Spywares actually started with good intentions. If a site owner understands the user of the website better, the site can respond accordingly so that his or her experience with the site can be more pleasing with little effort from the user. This can be a good thing since it makes the visit experience more natural.

Spyware, however, shows its evil face when it is overused in that respect and worse, is misused with bad intentions. Instead of trying to enhance the user’s site experience, private, financial data is stolen and sent out. The goal of the spyware has moved instead to stealing private information.

The mid to late 90’s boom of the internet or the virtual universe led to a proliferation of spywares and malwares created by evil intentioned programmers. Ignoring them becomes very dangerous since the info stolen are meant to steal money, sometimes in huge amounts.

The boom in spywares led to a boom on anti spywares also. These are created to recognise and beat the spywares to death. Often they are successful. Because while there are usually uncoordinated efforts in creating spywares, which usually are created by isolated individuals or groups, the anti spywares are created by established programmers working consistently together to find solutions.

However as the situation evolved, the later spywares were created by more coordinated and planned programmers and these became major hazards. Moreover a spyware can cause damage the moment it is released to the internet while the anti spywares need to be aware of them and have a good strategy before combating them successfully.

Eventually the worst happens - spywares which pretend to be anti spywares are created by persistent bad intentioned programmers. This is the most difficult to fight againts esp for the unsuspecting.

It is then very important to understand spywares and malwares. Even the best firewalls and antispywares will be broken by newer spywares. This is especially dangerous for the layman who might not understand the technicalities. You may never know what the real threat it and will be susceptible to be damaged badly without effective countermeasures.