: 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
Like Meta, Apple has sued Israeli spyware developer NSO Group for alleged hacking.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2024
Neither Kaspersky nor Bitdefender provided attribution for the group or what its motives are for spreading a spyware and credential-stealing app as sophisticated as Mandrake.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
Unlike military-grade spyware, like NSO Group’s infamous Pegasus, mSpy is a consumer product that’s often marketed as a way for parents to keep tabs on their children’s phone usage.
—Andrew Couts, WIRED, 13 July 2024
And not only on Russia: The Biden administration has penalized targets including Israeli settlers in the West Bank, former government officials in Afghanistan, alleged fentanyl dealers in Mexico and a North Macedonian spyware company.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for spyware 
Paresh Dave, WIRED, 15 Aug. 2024
Neither Kaspersky nor Bitdefender provided attribution for the group or what its motives are for spreading a spyware and credential-stealing app as sophisticated as Mandrake.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 30 July 2024
Unlike military-grade spyware, like NSO Group’s infamous Pegasus, mSpy is a consumer product that’s often marketed as a way for parents to keep tabs on their children’s phone usage.
—Andrew Couts, WIRED, 13 July 2024
And not only on Russia: The Biden administration has penalized targets including Israeli settlers in the West Bank, former government officials in Afghanistan, alleged fentanyl dealers in Mexico and a North Macedonian spyware company.
—Federica Cocco, Washington Post, 25 July 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 9 Sep. 2024.
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