What kind of data can spyware collect without consent?

Spyware is designed to infiltrate a user's system without their knowledge or consent, often with the intent of collecting sensitive information. Among the various types of data it can gather, personal data such as Social Security numbers and passwords is particularly concerning. This type of information is valuable to cybercriminals as it can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, and various other malicious activities.

User internet browsing history, system performance metrics, and software licenses typically do not hold the same level of sensitivity in terms of personal privacy compared to SSN and passwords. Browsing history, while still private, is often less critical than direct access to personal identifiers and credentials. System performance metrics do not typically involve personal information, and software licenses pertain more to ownership and usage rights than to data privacy issues. Hence, the nature of spyware's most intrusive actions is expressed through its capability to capture and exploit personal data without consent, making this type of information the most susceptible to collection by spyware.