Myware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Myware or MyWare refers to Spyware that a user installs to monitor themselves. Why would we want to spy on ourselves? To answer that question, we need to consider who is spying on us now and why they do it.
Spyware is software that collects information about us, without our knowledge or consent. We all know about criminal Spyware that steals our credit card details, but legitimate Spyware is also a growing business. Google and Yahoo record our browsing habits, almost every website we visit keeps information about us and some corporations even monitor our work activities. Most of us dislike the idea of being spied on, so why do companies risk our goodwill by doing it? The answer is simple - because the information they get is so valuable
So, what is Myware and where does it fit in? Myware is a form of self-Spyware. It is based on the Spyware technique of silent observation and its purpose is to help you spy on yourself to collect some of the same data gathered by legitimate Spyware products. It currently has three uses.
- The first use is commercial. To enable you to collect data about your own web-browsing to sell to marketers. This was pioneered by root.net.
- The second use is community-based. The goal is to allow you to share unedited and realistic data about yourself on-line. Last.fm pioneered this by recording your music listening habits and posting them to the world; enabling like-minded music-lovers to find you.
- The final use is in the workplace. Time tracking software like Qlockwork, TimeSnapper, and Active Timer records realistic data about your activities to improve your work practices.
[edit] Citations
- "With myware, soon you may be spying on yourself online", CNN, January 19, 2006
- My Love of MyWare, Mike Lewis, March 1, 2006
- Myware vs Spyware, Anne Currie, October 18, 2006
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