Adware

Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up.[1] The object of the Adware is to generate revenue for its author. Adware, by itself, is harmless; however, some adware may come with integrated spyware such as keyloggers and other privacy-invasive software.[2][3][4]

Contents

Application

Advertising functions are integrated into or bundled with the software, which is often designed to note what Internet sites the user visits and to present advertising pertinent to the types of goods or services featured there. Adware is usually seen by the developer as a way to recover development costs, and in some cases it may allow the software to be provided to the user free of charge or at a reduced price. The income derived from presenting advertisements to the user may allow or motivate the developer to continue to develop, maintain and upgrade the software product. Conversely, the advertisements may be seen by the user as interruptions or annoyances, or as distractions from the task at hand.

Some adware is also shareware, and so the word may be used as term of distinction to differentiate between types of shareware software. What differentiates adware from other shareware is that it is primarily advertising-supported. Users may also be given the option to pay for a "registered" or "licensed" copy to do away with the advertisements. The Eudora e-mail client is an example of an adware "mode" in a program. After a trial period during which all program features are available, the user is offered a choice: free of charge with limited functionality, a mode with full functionality which displays advertisements for Eudora, or a paid mode that enables all features and turns off the ads.

Malware

Some adware can also be classified as spyware, a type of malware (malicious software) which steals information. For example BonziBUDDY, an application marketed as an "Intelligent software agent", corrupted many of the user's system files, forcing the display of many obscene advertisements (composed mostly of infected Flash coding); these and the main application logged browsing details and sent them to various third parties.

Prevention and detection

Programs have been developed to detect, quarantine, and remove spyware, including Ad-Aware, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spyware Doctor and Spybot - Search & Destroy. In addition, almost all commercial antivirus software currently detect adware and spyware, or offer a separate spyware detection package.[5]

The reluctance to add adware and spyware detection to commercial antivirus products was fueled by a fear of lawsuits. Kaspersky, for example, was sued by Zango for blocking the installation of their products. Zango software and components are almost universally detected as adware nowadays.

Well-known adware programs/programs distributed with adware

  • 180SearchAssistant
  • AOL Instant Messenger
  • Ask.com Toolbar
  • Babylon
  • Bearshare
  • Bonzi Buddy
  • ClipGenie
  • Comet Cursor
  • Cydoor
  • Daemon Tools - (Software comes bundled with the "Daemon Tools WhenUSave Toolbar" but can be unchecked during installation)
  • DivX
  • DollarRevenue
  • Eudora (Users must explicitly opt to work in Adware mode)
  • ErrorSafe
  • Evernote
  • FormatFactory
  • FlashGet
  • Gator
  • Kazaa
  • Messenger Plus! Live - (Software comes bundled with adware, but can be unchecked during installation)
  • Microsoft Office Starter 2010[6]
  • Mirar Toolbar
  • MyWay Search Assistant
  • MyWay Searchbar
  • MyWay Speedbar
  • MyWeb Searchbar
  • MyWebSearch
  • Security Tool
  • PornDigger!
  • MyWay Searchbar
  • Quake Live
  • Spotify - (A subscription can be paid to remove ads.)
  • Tribal Fusion
  • Typhoid adware
  • uTorrent
  • Viewpoint Media Player
  • VirusProtectPro
  • Vuze
  • WeatherBug
  • WhenU SaveNow
  • WinAce (now with MeMedia AdVantage)
  • Winzix
  • Yahoo! Messenger
  • Zango products
  • Zwinky

See also

References

  1. ↑ Aaron Schwabach (2005). Internet and the Law: Technology, Society, and Compromises. ABC-CLIO. pp. 10. ISBN 978-1851097319. http://books.google.com/books?id=Fo2a7YtU1GUC&pg=PA10&dq=adware&hl=en&ei=nGh4TMeoGcaUnQfegfX3AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=adware&f=false. 
  2. ↑ Tulloch, Mitch (2003). Koch, Jeff; Haynes, Sandra. eds. Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security. Redmond, Washington: Microsoft Press. p. 16. ISBN 0-7356-1877-1. "Any software that installs itself on your system without your knowledge and displays advertisements when the user browses the Internet." 
  3. ↑ "Adware". Adware Protection Information. McAfee, Inc. http://www.mcafee.com/us/security_wordbook/adware.html. Retrieved 2010-08-18. 
  4. ↑ "adware". Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon. Dictionary.com, LLC. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adware. Retrieved 18 August 2010. "a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user's knowledge or consent; also called advertising-supported software" 
  5. ↑ Honeycutt, Jerry (20 April 2004). "How to protect your computer from Spyware and Adware". Microsoft.com. Microsoft corporation. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/honeycutt_spyware.mspx. "Things are changing for the better, though. Most popular antivirus products now include adware and spyware scanning. For example, the latest versions of McAfee VirusScan, Norton AntiVirus 2004, and Trend Micro PC-Cillin 2004 now scan for some adware and spyware." 
  6. ↑ "Trying and Buying Microsoft Office 2010 With Pre-Loaded Image and Office Starter 2010" (Microsoft Word document). Microsoft corporation. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/2010office/docs/Office2010StarterFS.doc. Retrieved 16 June 2010. "When you install Microsoft Office Starter 2010, you'll see advertisements in Word Starter and Excel Starter, visible whether you're working online or offline."  See in your web browser via Google Docs

Further reading

External links

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Related topics
Shovelware · Software bloat