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What Is Adware?

Home » Internet Security » Spyware and Adware Overview » What Is Adware?

Though adware does not precisely harm your computer, its results are decidedly annoying. It is characterized by advertisements popping up when they should not be, such as when you are not using the program (usually the Internet browser) that the adware was originally linked to.

Adware can be set through cookies, files in your web browser that websites put on your computer for identifying purposes, like your login if you set a site to "remember" you, or the "quick reply" setting for a message board. Some sites only put cookies to see how often you come. Have you ever noticed some advertisements bearing similarities to websites you have recently visited? Some websites read your cookies to study where else you have visited. Because some websites can also keep track of where you visit through a cookie, or give you pop-up ads with a cookie (even despite a pop-up ad blocker), you should only accept cookies from the site you visit and not its advertisers.

Most adware problems involve continuing pop-up ads appearing often when you use your computer. They can also be banner ads, overlaying web pages while not being a part of the web pages themselves. The ads may be based on your Internet history, if the adware checks that to find ads that you might like. Adware is also commonly used by pornographic websites.

The term also refers to Internet monitoring software installed with the users consent, or software that has advertisements integrated into it. Some programs require that the user accepts adware so the user can use the program for no or little charge. Disabling the advertisements is then against the terms of the contract. Companies justify the use of legal adware by claiming it offsets the cost of software development, allowing them to charge their customers less for the product. Sometimes, the adware is removable, but the user must purchase a particular software tool to remove it.

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