IT Security Stack Exchange
IT Security Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [spyware]

Software created with the purpose to spy on users, collecting data, or performing other actions, that might be useful to attackers.

200 questions
535
votes
18 answers

Police forcing me to install Jingwang spyware app, how to minimize impact?

Chinese police are forcing whole cities to install an Android spyware app Jingwang Weishi. They are stopping people in the street and detaining those who refuse to install it. Knowing that I may be forced to install it sooner or later, what are my…
Citizen
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196
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4 answers

How does Windows 10 allow Microsoft to spy on you?

Windows 10 is perhaps the most Internet-connected and cloud-centric operating system released by Microsoft to date. This, of course, has caused many users to be concerned about how the OS respects their privacy (or doesn't). Multiple sources are now…
user83026
76
votes
11 answers

Sanitize computer after Homeland Security seizure

I flew from overseas back to the USA and all my electronic equipment was seized by Homeland Security, including my laptop computer, external hard drives, flash drives, etc. After more than a month I have finally gotten my stuff back. I have 2…
user91785
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56
votes
10 answers

Is it really safe to use Signal or Telegram on untrusted phone hardware?

How safe are we when we use phone hardware from untrusted manufacturers and use end-to-end encrypted communication like Signal and Telegram? Are our conversations really safe from keyloggers or spyware? And what is the best option to communicate…
mech
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55
votes
8 answers

Should I get an antivirus for my Mac?

There are some people saying that people should use an antivirus software on Mac. And there are thousands of people claiming that Macs don't get viruses (under this term I mean spyware / malware as well), some even say that it's just a trick from…
gen
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49
votes
9 answers

Is making a clean install enough to remove potential malware?

Is formatting the disk and reinstalling the system from scratch (to Ubuntu) enough to remove any potential hidden software spyware, keyloggers etc.? Or can something still persist installed in the bios or something like that? What to do then? To be…
Strapakowsky
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43
votes
9 answers

What to do when I found a spyware that my spouse has installed?

Today I was trying to uninstall some application and I was very surprised to see this entry in my applications list Then I try to find what is this and I finally found it in "Program Files". After I opened the application and explored it a little…
Green Fly
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41
votes
5 answers

Is this an evidence of a Skype communication being spied on?

A couple of days ago I was having a conversation using Skype, then I wanted to share a link to a page with the interlocutor. I didn't want to let her understand the link content by just looking at the URL so I shortened it with Google shortening…
Matteo Umili
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40
votes
4 answers

How to know if firmware is stealing my information?

The recent news item Chinese Star N9500 Android smartphone contains factory-installed Trojan, says security firm has prompted me to think about firmware security. The news mentions the spyware is part of the device's firmware. This makes me worry:…
Just a HK developer
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27
votes
3 answers

Why do a lot of Android apps (like Linkedin) require many unrelated privileges?

I wanted to install the Linkedin app on my Android phone and I was shocked when it asked for nearly all possible permissions including reading all of my private data and calendar data. Why does any application like Linkedin which is probably…
Adam Arold
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24
votes
8 answers

Detecting and removing Absolute persistence technology

Absolute persistence technology amounts to a persistent rootkit pre-installed by many device manufacturers (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Toshiba, etc) to facilitate LoJack for laptops, and other backdoor services: The Absolute persistence…
sampablokuper
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24
votes
3 answers

How is it possible for boss to know I am finding a job?

Today, when my boss talking with me, he suddenly said: No you don't need to worry about it, everyday you have 3 or 4 messages with agent in Linkedin right? I am very very surprised, because : I work at home. I don't use VPN. I use Linux (Ubuntu)…
Elisa
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21
votes
4 answers

How is Facebook not considered spyware?

Recently, it was unveiled that Facebook's application in mobile phones (and messenger) have access to data that you didn't consent in their collection. Data that is completely unrelated to the existence of Facebook's and messenger's applications in…
user1584421
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15
votes
4 answers

Skype called someone and connected to them with no action on my part. What do I do?

This happened to me today, September 12, at about 6pm. Any ideas about what happened, what's going on, and what I should do? I was at home alone with my 2 year old -- I was feeding her dinner. All of a sudden, I hear my mom's voice saying, "Bob,…
Bob8943
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13
votes
1 answer

Looking for URL Blacklists of Malicious Websites

Is there a maintained list of URLs that contain malicious content. These URLs may be involved in Phishing, Scams, Viri, or other Malware. Please indicate in your answer if the list is freely distributed or if there is a cost associated with it. One…
mikesjawnbit
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