<aside> <img src="/icons/conceal_gray.svg" alt="/icons/conceal_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Spyware is malicious software that is designed to gather and send information about a user or organization without their knowledge

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Spyware can get installed on a system in several different ways

• Bundled with other software
• Installed through a malicious website
• Installed when users click on a deceptive pop-up advertisement

To help protect yourself against spyware, you should only use reputable antivirus and anti-spyware tools that are regularly updated to detect and remove any potential threats

<aside> <img src="/icons/whale_gray.svg" alt="/icons/whale_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Bloatware is any software that comes pre-installed on a new computer or smartphone that you, as the user, did not specifically request, want, or need

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Bloatware isn’t malicious, but it can

• waste your storage space
• slow down the performance of your devices
• introduce security vulnerabilities into your systems

REMEMBER, anytime a piece of software is installed, that is one or more potential threat vector for an attacker to exploit if you don’t properly update that application

To remove bloatware, you can do any of the following:

• Do a manual removal process
• Use bloatware removal tools to uninstall the unwanted applications
• Perform a clean operating system installation