In this paper, we survey some recent results on statistical inference (parametric and nonparametric statistical estimation, hypotheses testing) about the spectrum of stationary models with tapered data, as well as, a question concerning robustness of inferences, carried out on a linear stationary process contaminated by a small trend. We also discuss some question concerning tapered Toeplitz matrices and operators, central limit theorems for tapered Toeplitz type quadratic functionals, and tapered Fejer-type kernels and singular integrals. These are the main tools for obtaining the corresponding results, and also are of interest in themselves. The processes considered will be discrete-time and continuous-time Gaussian, linear or Levy-driven linear processes with memory.