The Spy Audit service scanned a total of 1.06 million PCs and found an average of 28 spyware items on each PC it scanned during the first quarter 2005. The majority of the items found were relatively harmless,  however over 300,000 represented serious problems.

The term "spyware" has yet to be precisely pinned down. It is used to describe several types of software code that might be deposited on a person's computer, often when freeware or shareware such as peer-to-peer programs are downloaded. The most common type, is adware: software that displays ads and also sends data back to a third party. Others include system monitors, which track a computer user's online activity.

While most spyware is adware-related and relatively benign, it's disturbing that over 300,000 of the more serious system monitors and [Trojan horses] were uncovered.

This figure represents how real a threat identity theft or system corruption is for users.

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