Spyware (Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Buket Doğan)

Spyware threatens both individual and organizational information security. Different forms of spyware have been developed to collect user information covertly and without authorization. In addition to unlawful data collection, related software can be used for parental control, advertising, defense and digital-forensics purposes.

The project covered research and development on spyware implementation and corresponding countermeasures. It first examined spyware types and then evaluated protection methods. Anti-spyware techniques were considered from software, hardware and user perspectives.

The study also examined spyware from a legal perspective and described relevant digital-forensics processes. Finally, an example spyware application was implemented and documented.