The term 'spyware' has stormed to the top of the search charts, replacing previous favourites such as 'Pamela Anderson' and 'poker', and reflecting a growing awareness of IT security.

Web portal Lycos reported that 'spyware' topped the search requests this week, taking the number one spot from 'poker' and beating other popular searches 'Pam' and 'Paris'.

Search activity for 'spyware' has jumped 105 per cent over the past week, Lycos said, generating 80 per cent more search activity than 'Pamela Anderson' in the number two slot.

Searches for 'Britney Spears' jumped from number 23 into ninth place this week, hot on the heels of last week's news that the songstress had filed for divorce from Kevin Federline.

Spears is a much more popular draw with web users than her soon-to-be-ex, generating 4,590 per cent more search activity than 'Federline'.

A political undercurrent was apparent in web searches this week. 'Democrats' increased 3,400 per cent over the past week, while searches for house minority leader 'Nancy Pelosi' jumped 1,600 per cent.

On November 7 many Americans turned to fake news such as 'Jon Stewart's Indecision 2006: Election Night' for their election news, resulting in a 300 per cent gain in online interest for 'Stewart' last week.

Meanwhile, the immense popularity of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan helped 'Kazakhstan' garner a 900 per cent increase in online interest.