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