Spyware
Spyware is the colloquial term for what is more formerly known as privacy-invasive software.
It's unwanted software that, once installed on your computer, either collects and transmits private information (for example, it might gather your e-mail contacts and deliver them to a spam operation) or manipulates the behavior of your computer negatively. It could force your web browser to go to a certain website, or send an e-mail from your e-mail program.
The term spyware is also sometimes used to refer to adware, which causes ads to appear on your computer, usually in the form of web browser pop-ups.
There are a several programs that scan for and eliminate known spyware, but new spyware is being created every day, and it sometimes must be manually removed.
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03/11/10 3:22pm Mobile Apple iPhone will finally multitask with OS 4.0
The next iteration of Apple's iPhone OS is set to finally take a big step towards making the smartphone more of a serious portable… dig deeper
Around the web: Daring Fireball (164 comments)
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Profile pages: Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3G, Apple, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3GS, Operating system, Spyware
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10/01/09 7:53pm Computing, Home A/V Facebook profiles used to spread spyware, Comcast in talks to buy NBC Universal, Google adds new search options
An automated Facebook attack has been using fake profiles to install spyware on users' computers. Facebook has taken down the… dig deeper
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, Techmeme (9 comments) 
Profile pages: Facebook, Facebook, Spyware, Hulu Desktop, Google, Social networking, Google, NBC Universal, Search engine, Hulu, General Electric Company, NBC, Comcast
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06/11/09 11:42am Computing Microsoft's free antivirus software Morro is about to go into beta
New antivirus dig deeper
Around the web: All about Microsoft
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Profile pages: Microsoft, Beta, Microsoft Windows, Malware, Spyware, Rootkit
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04/22/09 6:10pm Computing FBI uses elite spyware to defeat hackers, sexual predators, and terrorists
The feds could gather information like web viewing history, location, MAC address, and more using the software. dig deeper
Around the web: blog.wired.com (69 comments)
, Switched 
Google Nexus One and HTC Supersonic 4G smartphone heading to Sprint