Surveillanceware
Malware designed to secretly monitor and collect information from a user's device.
Surveillanceware is a type of malicious software, often called spyware, that is designed to secretly watch what you do on your computer or phone. It can record your keystrokes, take screenshots, access your camera and microphone, and steal personal information like passwords and financial data.
For example, a phishing email might trick you into downloading surveillanceware. Once installed, it could send everything you type in your online banking session directly to the attacker.
Surveillanceware encompasses a broad category of malware focused on covert data exfiltration and monitoring. This includes keyloggers, screen scrapers, remote access trojans (RATs), and spyware designed to capture sensitive user information, system activity, and communications without consent.
These tools are often employed for espionage, identity theft, or to gain unauthorized access to systems. Their effectiveness relies on stealth, evading detection by antivirus software and operating system security features.
This term is relevant as frontier AI labs are increasingly involved in detecting and mitigating sophisticated cyber threats. OpenAI's recent report highlights how threat actors are leveraging AI for developing malware and conducting scraping activities, underscoring the dual-use nature of AI technologies.
- STORM-0817: Iran-linked malware and scraping activityOpenAI · OpenAI News ·
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- OpenAI's security team actively monitors and bans accounts using their AI for malicious activities, including the development and deployment of malware like surveillanceware.
- Malware
- Surveillanceware is a specific type of malware focused on monitoring an
- Adware
- Adware typically displays unwanted advertisements, while surveillancewar
- Ransomware
- Ransomware encrypts data and demands payment for its release, unlike
The term 'surveillanceware' emerged from the cybersecurity community to describe software specifically engineered for covert monitoring and data collection, differentiating it from broader malware categories.
You can observe the effects of potential surveillance by reviewing your device's running processes and installed applications for anything unfamiliar or suspicious. Regularly check permissions granted to apps on your phone or computer, revoking access for those that do not require sensitive data.
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Questions people ask
- How can I protect myself from surveillanceware?
- Install reputable antivirus software, keep your operating system and applications updated, be cautious about email attachments and downloads, and review app permissions regularly.
- Is all spyware considered surveillanceware?
- Yes, surveillanceware is a category of spyware specifically designed for covert monitoring and data theft.
First seen on Subvolts Oct 1, 2024. Updated Sep 15, 2026. Written by an AI model from the items above and reviewed against them weekly; report an error.