Spyware can infect phone or computer through ads seen online

A report by the Israeli daily Haaretz claimed that the Israeli technology company Insanet had created a method of distributing spyware through online ad networks, converting some targeted advertisements into Trojan horses. There is no defense against the spyware and Insanet has been given permission by the Israeli government to market the technology. 

This mass of data serves as a library of clues for personalised ads, which are sent to you by a sophisticated network - an automated marketplace of advertisers, publishers and ad brokers that operates at lightning speed. The ad networks are designed to shield your identity, but companies and governments are able to combine that information with other data, particularly phone location, to identify you and track your movements and online activity.

Spyware can infect your phone or computer through ads seen online. This is known as drive-by download or malvertising. It is a type of malware attack that uses malicious advertisements to infect devices without the user's knowledge or consent. Malvertising attacks can take many forms, but they all work by tricking the user into clicking on a malicious ad. This ad may redirect the user to a malicious website, download malware to the user's device, or exploit a vulnerability in the user's software.

Spyware lets the user see the contents of the target’s device, including calls, texts, email and voicemail. Some forms of spyware can also take control of phone, including on its microphone and camera.

Spyware is a type of malware that is designed to collect information about the user's activities. This information can include the user's browsing history, search history, emails, text messages, and phone calls. Spyware can also be used to control the user's device, such as by turning on the microphone or camera without the user's knowledge.