What does spyware do?

Spyware is a type of malicious software designed to gather information about a person or organization without their consent. The primary function of spyware is to locate and save sensitive user data, such as passwords, browsing habits, and personal information. It operates stealthily in the background, often collecting this data and sending it to a third party, typically for purposes such as identity theft, targeted advertising, or corporate espionage.

The other options address different concepts: encryption is about protecting data, enhancing system performance and security typically refers to legitimate software improvements, and secure online transactions involve protocols designed for security, which do not relate to the primary function of spyware. Therefore, the identification of spyware as a tool that locates and saves user data without consent accurately captures its harmful and unauthorized nature.