spyware
n.n. software that someone hides on your computer or phone to watch what you do. It can steal your passwords, read your messages, or track where you go online.
n. software that enables a user to obtain covert information about another's computer activities by transmitting data secretly from their hard drive.
I installed an antivirus program to remove the spyware from my laptop.
The security team discovered spyware on several company phones that was designed to record private conversations and steal login credentials.
Modern spyware often disguises itself as legitimate system updates, making it increasingly difficult for average users to detect the unauthorized collection of their personal data.
A compound formed from the noun spy and the suffix -ware, extracted from software. It follows the established pattern of naming functional categories of computer code, such as malware and adware.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Uncountable; typically used with 'a piece of' or 'an instance of' to refer to a specific program.
Last updated July 22, 2026