A computer program that gathers information about a person or organization without their knowledge or consent is known known as

Answer Details

Spyware is specifically designed to covertly collect information about a person or organization without their knowledge or consent. Unlike adware, which displays advertisements, a time bomb, which is a type of malware that is set to execute at a specific time, or a trojan horse, which disguises itself as a legitimate program but carries out harmful actions, spyware focuses on gathering sensitive information such as browsing habits, keystrokes, personal data, and other confidential information. This information is then typically transmitted to third parties without the user's consent, posing significant privacy and security risks. Therefore, spyware fits the description of a computer program that gathers information without the user's knowledge or consent, making it the correct choice for the given question.