User perceptions of software with embedded spyware

This paper presents an experimental study involving participants using an online analytical processing software product. Following usage, the experimental group was informed that the software contained spyware. Responses from the experimental and control groups were compared using an independent samples t-test, and multiple regression was employed to identify significant predictors of overall trust in the software vendor. The results indicate that users of software with spyware have lower trust perceptions of a software vendor compared to users of software without spyware. Further analysis of trustworthiness as a multi-dimensional construct reveals that trustworthiness-ability and trustworthiness-integrity significantly influence overall trust in a vendor.