Spyware

Generic term for a range of surreptitious malware such as keyloggers, Remote Access Trojans, and backdoor Trojans, especially those that allow remote surveillance of passwords and other sensitive data. When used for frankly criminal activities may also be referred to as crimeware.

The term can also refer to “more aggressive adware”, which collects users’ personal data such as visited websites, installed applications, etc. The acquired information can then be exploited for targeted advertising, for instance.