Spyware:
- Generally refers to deceitful software that is secretly installed on a user’s computer and that monitors use of the computer in some way without the user’s knowledge or consent. Most spyware tries to get the user to view advertising and/or particular web pages.
In regards to affiliate marketing, lots of spyware programs are written by affiliate marketers participating in black hat tactics and including affiliate links in the program to display those ads to the user. A lot of anti virus programs like McAfee and Norton will block the download of spyware, but as unbelievable as it may sound, there are still people surfing the web out there with no antivirus protection.
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Glossary Definition From ABC’s of Online Marketing by Alexandra Wharton, Issue 22, Revenue Magazine
