: software that is installed in a computer or mobile device without the user's knowledge and that transmits information about the user's activities
Jan should scan her computer for viruses, worms, and spyware …—
Kenneth Baldauf and Ralph Stair
Kenneth Baldauf and Ralph StairSmartphones belonging to more than three dozen journalists, human rights activists, and business executives have been infected with powerful spyware that an Israeli firm sells, purportedly to catch terrorists and criminals, The Washington Post and other publications reported.—Dan Goodin
Dan GoodinExamples of spyware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Hauk, consumer privacy advocate at Pixel Privacy, agrees battery drain is a strong indicator of spyware on your device.
—Kate O'Flaherty, WIRED, 6 May 2024
These spyware attacks can cost millions of dollars to develop.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spyware 
Kate O'Flaherty, WIRED, 6 May 2024
These spyware attacks can cost millions of dollars to develop.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spyware
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spyware.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spyware
Cite this Entry
“Spyware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spyware. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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