| The word "Adware" is short for | | | | and may report on computer use." As the company |
| "Advertising-Supported Software." This term | | | | has included this statement in the "Terms of Use," it |
| describes any software which automatically plays, | | | | is now no longer Spyware but simply Adware, as |
| displays, or downloads advertising material to a | | | | they are not "secretly" collecting and tracking your |
| computer, after the software has been installed on it. | | | | information. |
| It is usually included with other software which one | | | | But really... how many people actually fully read the |
| can download from the Internet - especially software | | | | Terms of Use? |
| that you can download for "free". The price you pay | | | | Another circumstance to take into account is the |
| is having the adware installed on your computer. | | | | case when there are more than one person using the |
| When you run the program that you downloaded for | | | | computer. In the case of a family computer, your |
| "free" from the Internet, it will usually automatically | | | | kids might download a simple "free game," and |
| cause adds to pop up on your screen thereafter. | | | | unaware of all the facts, automatically agree to have |
| Adware software is integrated into, or combined | | | | Adware installed. All you see is the kids playing a new |
| with, another program. The person or company who | | | | game. You might even be happy as it didn't cost you |
| is making the free program available is usually paid for | | | | dime this time. However the "free game" is most |
| including adware in his program. This is one of the | | | | likely not all that was downloaded. |
| ways that some programmers make a living or cover | | | | A few names of well-known Adware programs are |
| the cost of writing "free" programs. | | | | as follows: |
| Sometimes Adware takes the form of spyware, | | | | * 180 Solutions * 180SearchAssistant * Zango * Bonzi |
| keeping track of what you do on your computer, | | | | Buddy * BlockChecker * ClipGenie * Comet Cursor * |
| and which pages you visit on the web. This | | | | Cydoor * Direct Revenue * Ebates MoneyMaker * |
| information is automatically sent over the Internet to | | | | ErrorSafe * Gator * Hotbar * Mirar Toolbar * Smiley |
| the company which runs the adware. The data is | | | | Central * WeatherBug |
| then used in order to target you with specific | | | | This list is by no means complete and serves only to |
| advertisements, or is sometimes resold to other | | | | give some examples. |
| companies. This is can be done entirely without your | | | | There are programs designed specifically to detect |
| knowledge. Should you, however, complain about this, | | | | spyware and adware. They and will not detect or |
| you would most likely be referred to some fine print | | | | remove viruses. Some of these products are available |
| in the license agreement which you accepted when | | | | for free on the Internet. Anti-Adware or |
| you installed the "free" program. | | | | Anti-Spyware programs are not Antivirus programs. |
| Some Adware can interfere with the functions of | | | | This is a different subject entirely. A virus is a |
| other programs running on your computer, in order | | | | malicious program which is spread from one |
| to force you to visit a particular web site. If you find | | | | computer to the other. It harms your computer, |
| yourself being automatically sent to a certain | | | | erases your data, keeps your system from running |
| website, you can be fairly certain that you have | | | | correctly, or does other damage. |
| some form of adware running on your computer. | | | | A virus can also spy on you like spyware does - for |
| These days it can be hard to separate out "Adware" | | | | example, by recording your credit card information |
| from "Spyware" and "Malware;" especially since many | | | | and sending the data to someone else by email. But |
| programs might do all of these things at the same | | | | the terms adware or spyware usually refer to |
| time. For example, if you install "adware" knowingly or | | | | software which does only that - spies on you, sends |
| unknowingly on a computer, and agree to a tracking | | | | you advertisements, and steals your data; with or |
| feature, the "adware" becomes "spyware" as it is | | | | without your "consent." Most Anti-virus programs also |
| now also keeping track of what you do and sending | | | | detect Adware and Spyware. |
| the information somewhere. If someone else visits or | | | | But if you are very active online it is a good idea to |
| contacts your computer, this will also be recorded | | | | have several different anti-adware and anti-spyware |
| and his information is then passed on as well. | | | | programs installed. Different programs detect |
| Some Adware is not classified as Spyware because, | | | | different types of spyware and adware. By scanning |
| somewhere in the user agreement it says that | | | | your computer with more than one program, you can |
| "third-party software will be included that may collect | | | | do a more thorough clean-up. |