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Gibson is an advocate of [[assembly language]] programming, and prides himself with writing whole applications exclusively in assembly language, including the [[SpinRite]] hard disk utility. He is one of several advocates of optimizing computer programs and reducing the size of their executables.
Gibson has garnered criticism for certain writings on computer security which allegedly do no more than spread [[FUD|fear]]. He has also been accused of shameless self-promotion, and has oft been likened to a [[snake oil]] merchant. These accusations notwithstanding, he has developed and distributed (for free) a number of useful security tools, including the popular [https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 ShieldsUp!] port-scanning site, and [http://www.grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm LeakTest]. His writings also provide something of a glimpse into the world of ''[[hacker|hackers]]'' and ''[[Hacker#Hacker:_Intruder_and_criminal|crackers]]'', of which he counts himself one of the former.
In early 2000, Steve Gibson of Gibson Research realized that advertising software had been installed on his system, and he suspected that the software was stealing his personal information. After analyzing the software he determined that they were adware components from the companies Aureate (later Radiate) and Conducent. He eventually rescinded his claim that the ad software collected information without the user's knowledge, but still chastised the ad companies for covertly installing the spyware and making it difficult to remove. As a result of his analysis in 2000, Gibson released the first anti-spyware program, OptOut, and many more software antidotes have appeared since then.[3] Gibson is generally credited with coining the term [[spyware]].
Since mid-2005, Gibson has appeared regularly on [[Leo Laporte|Leo Laporte's]] technology [[podcast]], ''[[This Week in Tech]]''. Since [[August 18]], 2005, Gibson has co-hosted a computer security-focused podcast with Laporte called ''[[Security Now!|Security Now!]]''.
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