Spyware for Mobile Devices
Spyware is different from fingerprinting. Fingerprinting identifies a unique device, while spyware tracks specific (and private) information about what a user is doing—sites visited, location, and so on. Spyware comes in many forms. The most prevalent (and annoying) is potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Not only do PUAs consume resources, including battery and bandwidth, but these applications also track information, including the user’s web-browsing history, Global Positioning System (GPS) location, and contacts. Many developers fund their work by sharing the data they collect using these unwanted applications with third-party advertisers. PUAs can also change browser settings, opening the victim to further ...
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