| When we think of adware, what comes to mind | | | | However, some adwares are more than just |
| are those annoying and pesky ads that pop up | | | | pesky and garish ads. In many cases, adwares |
| out of nowhere whenever we are surfing the | | | | accompany a more malicious program, which |
| net. Anybody who has surfed through the net | | | | uploads information about the user collected |
| has encountered those irritating pop-up | | | | without permission. The users surfing habits |
| adwares advertising everything from computer | | | | are then tracked; in some cases, the browser |
| software down to Viagra. Adwares are some of | | | | home page is altered or redirected to the |
| the most derided objects in the web alongside | | | | adware company's sponsoring site. These types |
| viruses, spyware and other malicious | | | | of adwares are dangerous since they may |
| softwares and programs. Although adwares are | | | | jeopardize the computer system's health. |
| alleged to be the most benign form of | | | | Aside from installing malicious software, |
| spyware, most web users hate the blatant and | | | | they may also become an avenue for viruses to |
| bothersome way of advertising. Most are often | | | | invade the system. |
| tricked into clicking on such adwares and end | | | | |
| up unintentionally downloading something far | | | | Adwares have come under fire not only because |
| more serious. | | | | of their annoying presence in the form of pop |
| | | | ups and banners but also in the way they |
| What are adwares, anyway? Adware or | | | | invade the privacy of the user. Trackware and |
| advertising-supported software is defined as | | | | Spyware are just two of the "evil" forms that |
| any computer program or software package in | | | | adware can take. That is why most computer |
| which advertising and other marketing | | | | users make an effort to get rid of these |
| material are included with or automatically | | | | adwares. Because of the annoying nature of |
| loaded by the software. Adwares are usually | | | | pop-up adware, most browsers now employ an |
| played back after installation. Some | | | | adware blocking system through the form of a |
| malicious adwares upload information about | | | | pop-up blocker or adware blocker. Browsers |
| the computer or its user's activities even | | | | such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer and |
| without the consent of its user. Adwares most | | | | Mozilla's Firefox all use pop-up blockers, |
| often take the form of banner ads that appear | | | | which instantly block or close any window |
| on pop up windows or anywhere on the computer | | | | that is triggered by adware in the sites that |
| screen. | | | | the user visits. These steps have |
| | | | significantly reduced the number of |
| Software applications display these | | | | irritating adware that pop up every time a |
| advertising banners whenever a program is | | | | site is opened. |
| opened or through some other triggering | | | | |
| mechanism. Most adwares are integrated into a | | | | Most antivirus programs and utilities now |
| free application. This is a way for the | | | | feature an adware search and removal system. |
| developers to recover the costs of creating | | | | These programs indexes known adwares and |
| such software. A prominent example of this is | | | | spywares in the internet universe and |
| the Opera browser software, which is a free | | | | searches for it in the user's computers |
| application but comes with a banner ad. The | | | | system then subsequently quarantines or |
| adware can only be removed once the user | | | | deletes the malicious files. Nevertheless, |
| purchases and registers his copy of the | | | | despite the numerous efforts against adwares, |
| software. It is also a revenue-generating | | | | they continue to plague web surfers with |
| mechanism. A company can sponsor adwares to | | | | their showy ads and banners as well as the |
| capture more visitors and potential | | | | nasty programs they introduce into the |
| customers. Adware as a marketing strategy is | | | | computer system. As the sage of the annoying |
| just one of the many techniques used by | | | | adware continues, web surfers are also |
| websites to attract more traffic. | | | | equipped with the best tools and utilities to |
| | | | combat them. |