The internet has become a virtual universe of its own. Like its real counterpart, good things can be bad depending on how it is utilised.

Spywares started out not as what it is today. Info about a visitor to the virtual universe is kept and sent through the internet to enable tailoring of the visitor’s online experience. That could be a good thing since it potentially can reduce the effort to seek the right kind of info on the internet.

Overuse in that intention, and worse, misusage so that private financial data is extracted without consent, however, the spyware becomes a true devil. The interest of the spyware reverses to evil and instead of trying to enhance the site user’s experience, the goal is simply to steal information.

With the boom of the internet or the virtual universe in the mid to late 90’s, spywares also followed booming. Too many spywares and malwares are released to the internet by evil intentioned programmers that it is no longer safe to ignore them since info stolen can and actually be used to steal money to 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.

It is when special spywares are created in a coordinated, well thought out manner that it sometimes become major hazards. The moment a spyware is released to the virtual universe, it can start causing havoc immediately. Anti spywares only come out later after the spywares have led to damage.

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.

That is why it pays to really understand spywares and malwares as you enter the virtual universe. No matter what firewalls or antispywares measures you have, it is bound to be broken at some point by newer spywares. And for the layman, this is especially important because you need to wade through the technical jargons to know what the real threat is. Unless you understand and take appropriate measures, you will be damaged at one point in time.