Spyware is something which criminals use to access your computer or mobile device obtain your private information or spy on you.
Spyware is usually downloaded invisibly with a programme requested by you – for example a game – or sent to you as an email attachment. They can perform actions similar to legitimate software, making them difficult to detect.
It is frequently used to take control of webcams with the objective of the resulting video or images being used for blackmail or other inappropriate purposes. (see Blackmail).