There are thousands of different spyware parasites. The following examples illustrate how treacherous and harmful spyware can be.
CoolWebSearch is the entire family of browser hijackers that all attempt to redirect a web browser to the coolwebsearch.com domain. Most of these threats display advertisements, change web browser's default start and search pages and modify security settings. From the first sight, CoolWebSearch parasites are relatively harmless. However, some variants are able to steal user passwords, bank account details and other identity data. These pests are virtually impossible to remove.
Infamous Gator spyware made the headlines because of its enormous prevalence. Various Gator variants are still bundled with ad-supported software and can get into the system from insecure web sites. Parasites display numerous advertisements and install additional spyware components without user consent. Most of their victims noticed increased frequency of web browser crashes and overall system instability. Practically all Gator variants include parts that stay active even after a user uninstalls the pest.
BonziBuddy spyware is targeted at children. Its description says that the program displays an animated on-screen ape that helps kids to surf the web and use e-mail. However, BonziBuddy also silently installs several additional spyware parasites that not only violate user privacy, but also affect computer’s performance and security.
Credit : http://www.2-spyware.com/spyware-removal
