The type of software that is designed to steal your personal information is generally called spyware , and more specifically it can be called information‑stealing malware or an infostealer.

Quick Scoop: The Core Term

When people ask “what is the name of the type of software that is designed to steal your personal information,” the standard textbook answer is:

  • Spyware – malicious software that secretly installs on your device, monitors what you do, and sends your personal data (logins, banking details, browsing habits, etc.) to an attacker.

In modern cybersecurity articles (especially from 2024–2025), you’ll also see a more precise label:

  • Information stealer (infostealer) – a focused kind of malware whose main job is to harvest sensitive data like usernames, passwords, credit card info, browser cookies, and then exfiltrate it to criminals.

So if you need one simple name, “spyware ” is the widely accepted term; if you want the more technical phrase, “information‑stealing malware ” or “infostealer ” is spot‑on.

Information‑stealing malware quietly collects sensitive data such as credentials and financial details, then sends it to threat actors who can sell or abuse that access.

Related Types You Might Hear About

Under the broader spyware / info‑stealer umbrella, there are specialized subtypes that all revolve around stealing personal information:

  • Keyloggers – record every keystroke you type to capture passwords, messages, and card numbers.
  • Trojan spyware / Trojan infostealers – disguised as legitimate apps or downloads, but secretly open a backdoor and steal data in the background.
  • Password‑stealing malware – built specifically to dump saved passwords and browser data, often sold as “stealer” tools on criminal markets.
  • Privacy‑invasive software – a broader term for software that gathers info about you without your informed consent, sometimes lumped together with spyware.

All of these are still best described to a non‑expert as “spyware” or “information‑stealing malware.”

Why This Matters Now

Recent reports from government and security vendors highlight that infostealers are a major part of today’s cybercrime ecosystem, often rented out as “malware‑as‑a‑service.” They:

  • Steal credentials and financial data.
  • Send the data to command‑and‑control servers.
  • Are then used to empty accounts, hijack sessions, or prepare ransomware attacks.

In other words, when you think of malware that’s specifically designed to steal your personal information , you’re thinking of spyware , particularly information‑stealing spyware/infostealers.

TL;DR:
The name you’re looking for is spyware ; in modern security terms, this is often referred to more precisely as information‑stealing malware or an infostealer because its primary purpose is to steal your personal and sensitive data.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.