What is the aim of spyware?

Answer 1

Usually it is the aim of making profit. One example which is the most common is fake spyware removal programs. An alert can pop up on a site, telling you that you have an infected computer and presenting a button to "fix now" which will create more problems for you.

Another scenario is doing a free scan, then having a fake anti-spyware program detect "fake" threats or placing the threats on your computer. You are then forced to use their software program to remove such threats and pay a fee. Usually this amounts to an unhappy user and a charge on their credit card.

They can also be used to snoop around your computer, open doorways to install even more malicious threats and steal private data and commit fraud or identity theft. There are many methods, but usually with the goal of ripping people off financially.