Role of Spyware in the Intelligent Digital Age: A Comparative Analysis

In recent times, the use and application of technology has increased exponentially. With the internet gaining so much usage and almost everyone owning some or the other kind of device to access it, the process of reaching someone, sometimes even illegally, has become easier than ever before. Modern methods of monitoring someone's activities include using spyware. Even at the international level, spyware is being adopted for carrying out cyber espionage. Modern spyware is extremely formidable with an endless attack surface. No device can be considered safe with the proliferation of spyware. The first step towards solving a problem is to have a thorough knowledge of it. In this survey analysis, we have explored various existing spyware along with the possible ways to detect and eliminate them. Also, we have touched briefly on the users' attitudes towards the existence and circulation of spyware across the internet. This paper is holistically constructed with the intent to provide a decent head start to the reader in the knowledge space of spyware.