Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software application in which
advertisements are displayed while the program is running. These applications
include additional code that displays the ads in pop-up windows or through
a bar that appears on a computer screen. Adware helps recover programming development
costs, and helps to hold down the price of the application for the user (even
making it free of charge)--and, of course, it can give programmers a profit,
which helps to motivate them to write, maintain, and upgrade valuable software.
Some adware is also shareware, in that users are given the option
to pay for a "registered" or "licensed" copy,
which typically does away with the advertisements. These adware programs
do not usually track a user's personal information.
Examples:
Eudora - email client
Opera - web browser
Other adware programs have been criticized for including code or
bundled applications that track a user's personal information and
passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or
knowledge. This practice has been dubbed Spyware and
has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy advocates,
including
the Electronic Privacy
Information Center.
Examples:
Gator (now known as Claria)
TopText - comes with KaZaA
Adware can also describe any application or software which facilitates
the distribution of online advertisements to end users. As such it
is similar to spyware in that it that gathers user information and
browsing patterns and uses this information to display advertisements
in the Web browser., but unlike spyware, Adware contains a disclosure
(somewhere in the terms and conditions) telling you that your information
will be used.
It is important to read the privacy policy when downloading Adware.
Adware Removal
Kazaa adamantly
denies these applications are spyware, based on
the fact that you have the option of not installing the Adware and,
even if installed, these applications don’t send personal information
such as names and email addresses. Anti spyware vigilantes maintain
that Kazaa is splitting hairs.
· TopText - comes with KaZaA and other file-sharing programs
such as iMesh. TopText will alter all pages viewed in IE, adding
extra links to words and phrases targeted by advertisers. These links
are unauthorised by the operators of the sites being viewed,and create
unwanted advertising smart tags throughout third-party software.
· Bonzi Buddy
You may have encountered this little purple gorilla through Bonzi’s
ubiquitous popup ad campaign.
Bonzi Buddy enlivens your desktop, helping you browse, manage downloads,
providing email alerts, finding better prices while shopping, singing
songs, telling jokes, remembering special dates and more.
But… this persistent primate is heavily sponsored to sell you
things you do not want, and can also be very irritating to the pc
user. In addition it sneakily sends information from your computer
out to the Bonzi ad server.
· Gator
Like the name implies, behind its helpful exterior, Gator has a lethal
bite, both for users and online advertisers. In its benign form,
Gator is a helpful little app that helps you remember all those user
names and passwords and stores them in a secure desktop “wallet”.
Gator’s dark side is embodied by the bundled adware, Offer
Companion. Offer Companion sits on your desktop and monitors your
browsing habits to identify your interests. When you hit a site on
a topic area that matches the target of one of the advertisers in
its database, you’ll be served a related ad, either in a pop
up or slide up window. The downside for the user? Again, do you really
want a third party monitoring your online activities and firing this
information off the advertisers? And for online advertisers, do you
really want visitors to your site being bombarded by ads from your
competition?
· Comet Cursor
You may have found Comet Cursor magically appearing on your computer
without your knowledge. Comet Cursor is the little program that turns
your cursor into a dog, cat or Homer Simpson when you visit a website.
Often, the program is downloaded with the ActiveX controls that are
indicated as required when you visit the site. Comet Cursor was being
bundled with RealPlayer downloads as well.
Comet Cursor monitors online activity and will present advertising
offers based on your browsing habits. Comet Cursor is apparently
trying to make amends for past
transgressions by publishing a privacy
policy on its site.
Some of the information and material on this page has been obtained
from the Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the
GNU Free Documentation License.
Learn how to combat AdWare – ADWARE REMOVAL