1. A method for updating a system which controls spyware programs on a computer, the method comprising: receiving an identifier from a first computer, the identifier being associated with a spyware program on the first computer; associating a category with the identifier if the category was not previously associated with the identifier; sending at least the category associated with the identifier to a second computer for scanning the second computer for the spyware program associated with the identifier; and providing instructions to the second computer to scan for the spyware program based at least in part on the associated category, the scan occurring independent of whether the spyware program is executed.