In a recent, carefully controlled and closed demonstration, it took me less than 20 minutes to create a spyware program and embed it into a webpage. Using colleagues who had previously been made aware of nature of experiment, I invited them to take a look at this “special” but very ordinary looking webpage. Within seconds of visiting this webpage, spyware went to work taking a snapshot of their hard disk, a snapshot of their Favourites folder and a copy of their browsing history. Before they had even finished reading webpage, spyware was already transferring their information to my server. It’s as easy as that! Equally that same code could be manipulated to perform a total trash of hard disk or some other equally miserable and criminal act.

Speaking to BBC, David Moll explained.

"Some (spyware programs) lurk on misspelled URLs and strike those that type faster than their fingers can carry them. As a result you do not end up where you expect to be."

Alarmingly, users do not even need to visit a website to contract spyware. The preview window in Microsoft’s Outlook Express allows emails containing HTML and any other code which can be placed on a normal webpage, to be loaded, without warning. Companies looking to implant spyware using “drive-by” principal are regularly exploiting this glaringly obvious flaw in design of Outlook Express.

"If you get one piece of spyware, you will get five because business model says they pay each other to pass on information about victims," said Mr Moll.

Thankfully anti-spyware/adware programs such as Ad-Aware (free) and WebRoot’s own offering, Spy Sweeper can clean up a PC and even help prevent further infections, but just like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software needs to be kept up-to-date to remain effective.

In addition to providing software solutions to this problem, legislators too are seeking to end this electronic intrusion. In USA an anti-spyware bill is moving towards approval in Congress. If successfully implemented, this bill will force firms who wish to use spyware to first receive permission from end-user before it is installed. But even before any new laws come into place, spyware makers are already working on next generation coding which keep their programs intact and operational….perhaps even on your PC.

Related Links: WebRoot Spyware Audit http://www.webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ WebRoot http://www.webroot.com/

The real magic behind this technology is newly developed stereo algorithm, which makes it possible to accurately reconstruct a 3D, geometric image in real time and on a standard computer. Fundamentally, this is same technology which was used to recreate stunning 3D images of Martian surface, which were beamed back by NASA rover.

With ability to generate realistic looking background images in order that users can pretend they are somewhere other than where they really are! Commenting, Dr Criminisi said.

"This is important for privacy, as I may not want you to see how untidy my bedroom is."

A feature likely to capture teens market is that of Smart Icons. Instead of typing in usual pictorial emotion e.g. :) i2i can superimpose free floating, 3D ones which can then be instructed to float freely around a person's head or anywhere else for that matter.

While Dr Criminisi admits there are still issues to iron out before project is passed on to Microsoft Development, he is pleased with what has been achieved in under two years. Dr Criminisi's team is already experimenting with code which enables users to create their own wrap-around avatar, 3D face and then have it move as if it were their own.