Meaning

noun computer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent

originEtymology tree English spy Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Germanic *samþuz /*samftuz Proto-Germanic *-jaz Proto-West Germanic *-ī Proto-West Germanic *samft(ī) Old English sōfte Middle English softe English soft Proto-Germanic *warō Proto-West Germanic *waru Old English waru Middle English ware English -ware English softwarebf. English -ware English spyware From spy + -ware.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0