What is Adware?
Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed or while the application is being used. It differs from spyware in that it does not necessarily remotely monitor victims, but rather manipulates their experience in order to increase advertising revenues.
However, some adware borders on being spyware because it can monitor browsing habits as a basis for ad selection. Adware is often bundled with legitimate products in exchange for the right to use a program without paying for it. The goal of installing adware on a user’s computer is not typically to damage the computer but rather to push ads to the computer user.
Some legitimate software, and especially shareware and freeware versions, can be considered adware because they use adverts as a way to recover development costs. However, these are, for the most part, benign forms of adware. Adware may create pop-up ads that pop a web browser above the user’s browser or pop-unders, which pop a hidden ad under the user’s browser, and which the user sees when they close their browser.
More malicious adware will conceal its presence in memory, and modify system settings so that it becomes difficult to discover and remove. It will then display pop-up adverts when a computer boots, an Internet browser is launched, or even just randomly.
Web surfers can become infected by visiting suspicious websites, downloading from file-sharing networks, or clicking on pop-up adverts. Because adware usually causes an increase of pop-up adverts, clicking on them can become a vicious cycle, with each click causing deeper infection.
Downloading music, movies, pictures, games or other applications from file-sharing networks, newsgroups, or public forums can also be equally dangerous. By downloading files from an unverified source, users run the risk of coming in contact with infections. And as mentioned, once a machine is infected, it invites further threats by manipulating what sites you visit and displaying pop-ups that are often confusing, difficult, or impossible to close.
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