Can adware and spyware lead to identity theft?

Can adware and spyware lead to identity theft?

The answer...maybe. Lets first define adware and spyware, then how they relate to identity theft.

Adware can be considered a "trial run" of software that companies want you to try before you buy. Often you will see these in the form of pop-up advertisements that have made their way onto your computer after you visited a particular site or clicked on a certain link. Adware is typically a trial form of software that allows you to use and then decide if you want to purchase the software. Adware does not typically do any harm to your computer, but it can be a nuisance, as unwanted advertisements spontaneously appear on your screen. If you click off the adware ad, and close it, it will go away, unlike...

...spyware, which is similar to adware, but more powerful. It can get onto your computer in the same manner as adware, but is more sophisticated. This software will monitor your online activities and send that information to someone else. It is capable of getting information about email addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers. In this respect, adware and spyware can lead to identity theft. One way to find out if spyware has made it onto your computer is when you notice changes to the computer. Your web browser home page may look different or be a completly different page. There may also be new toolbars and search engines atop your homepage. Basically, if your homepage or internet navigation LOOKS different than the last time you used it, chances are your computer is infected.

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