spyware

spyware — noun

1. a harmful program placed on computers or phones without warning, used to gather

1.名詞B2
釋義

a harmful program placed on computers or phones without warning, used to gather private data such as passwords by secretly watching what the user does.

例句

Asher discovered spyware on his laptop after strange ads started appearing in his browser.

collocation: spyware on [device]

The hospital's security team found spyware that had been recording patient records for months.

passive construction: spyware that had been [verb+ing]

同義詞
  • malware

    broader category; spyware is a type of malware that collects data

  • tracking software

    less common; describes the function without the negative connotation

  • monitoring software

    neutral term; can refer to spyware or legitimate parental-control tools

文法句型

spyware on [device]

detect / remove spyware

contain / install spyware

用法筆記

Uncountable — do not write 'a spyware' or 'spywares'. For a single instance, use 'a piece of spyware' or 'a spyware program'. Frequently used attributively (e.g., 'spyware infection', 'spyware attack').

常見錯誤

❌I found a spyware on my phone.
✅I found spyware on my phone.
💡spyware is uncountable; no articles or plural forms.
❌My computer has many spywares.
✅My computer has several pieces of spyware.
💡use 'pieces of spyware' for multiple instances.