Spyware comes under attack from antivirus firm

Network Associates, the maker of McAfee antivirus software, is joining the fight against spyware, programs that track people's internet habits, gather personal information and deliver it to advertisers. On Thursday, the company released McAfee AntiSpyware, a new product designed to automatically and proactively guard consumers against the threat of spyware and adware, programs that allow advertisements to automatically pop up on a computer screen.

Spyware is a broad term often used to describe unwelcome programs that take up residence on a computer's hard drive. They typically appear when computer users download freeware or shareware from the internet. They also can be passed around through emails and peer-to-peer applications such as instant messaging and music file-sharing software.

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