Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which employs your Internet connection in the background (the so-called "backchannel") without your knowledge or explicit permission.
You're paying for your ISP connection. Spyware is THEFT from YOU!! You've been ROBBED!
Silent background use of an Internet "backchannel" connection MUST BE PRECEDED by a complete and truthful disclosure of proposed backchannel usage, followed by the receipt of explicit, informed, consent for such use. ANY SOFTWARE communicating across the Internet absent these elements is guilty of information theft and is properly and rightfully termed: Spyware. Most users find that spyware slows down their systems as the backchannel is used to send your browsing habits to the spyware's server. I notice net-speed performance improvement every time I use AdAware.
If you surf the net and have ever downloaded freeware or software supported by embedded ads & cookies, chances are excellent you have spyware on your computer RIGHT NOW!!
Now you can totally ELIMINATE all spyware from your system quickly and best of all FREE !!