Adware, or
advertising-supported software, is any
softwareComputer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a
pop-upPop-up ads or pop-ups are a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to attract web traffic or capture email addresses. Pop-ups are generally new web browser windows to display advertisements...
. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during the installation process. The object of the Adware is to generate revenue for its author. Adware, by itself, is harmless; however, some adware may come with integrated
spywareSpyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
such as keyloggers and other
privacy-invasive softwarePrivacy-invasive software is a category of computer software that ignores users’ privacy and that is distributed with a specific intent, often of a commercial nature. Three typical examples of privacy-invasive software are adware, spyware and content hijacking programs.- Background :In a...
.
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
sharewareThe term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
, 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
EudoraEudora is an e-mail client used on the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows operating systems. It also supports several palmtop computing platforms, including Newton and the Palm OS....
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
spywareSpyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
, a type of
malwareMalware, short for malicious software, consists of programming that is designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, or gain unauthorized access to system resources, or that otherwise exhibits abusive behavior...
(malicious software) which steals information. For example
BonziBUDDYBonziBUDDY, also known as Bonzi, sometimes spelled Bonzi Buddy, BonziBuddy, BONZIBuddy was an on-screen "intelligent software agent" from BONZI Software, released in 1999 and discontinued in 2005. The official website stated that the software would help a user surf the Internet by using Microsoft...
, an application marketed as an "Intelligent
software agentIn computer science, a software agent is a piece of software that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere : an agreement to act on one's behalf...
", 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-AwareAd-Aware is an anti-spyware and anti-virus program developed by Lavasoft that detects and removes malware, spyware and adware on a user's computer...
,
Malwarebytes' Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a computer application that finds and removes malware. Made by Malwarebytes Corporation, it was released in January 2008...
,
Spyware DoctorSpyware Doctor is a spyware removal product for Microsoft Windows developed by PC Tools.-Features:Spyware Doctor is a program which scans a computer for spyware, examining files on the hard drive, objects in memory, the Windows registry, and cookies, and then attempts to quarantine or remove...
and
Spybot - Search & DestroySpybot Search & Destroy is a popular spyware and adware removal program compatible with Microsoft Windows 95 and later. It scans the computer hard disk and/or RAM for malicious software....
. In addition, almost all commercial
antivirus softwareAntivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware...
currently detect adware and spyware, or offer a separate spyware detection package.
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
ZangoZango, formerly ePIPO, 180solutions and Hotbar, was a software company that provided users access to its partners' videos, games, tools and utilities in exchange for viewing targeted advertising placed on their computers. Zango software is listed as adware by Symantec...
for blocking the installation of their products. Zango software and components are almost universally detected as adware nowadays.
Examples of adware
- 180SearchAssistant
- Ask.com Toolbar
- Bonzi Buddy
- ClipGenie
ClipGenie is an adware program that "brings rich media content to you, directly to your hard drive. Now you can get all the best movies, games and programs downloaded directly to your computer ... while you sleep! And the best part is ... it's absolutely, totally FREE!"This program is capable of...
- Comet Cursor
Comet Cursor was a software program manufactured by Comet Systems. It allowed users of the Microsoft Windows Operating System to change the appearance of their mouse's cursor and to allow websites to use customized cursors for visitors. The product was introduced as an enhancement to website...
- Cydoor
Cydoor Desktop Media is an Israeli adware company. Cydoor originally placed ads only in software programs such as Kazaa, but has now expanded into running ads on websites as an advertising network....
- DollarRevenue
DollarRevenue is an adware program made by the company of the same name. It displays advertisements on the infected PC and installs the UCMore Toolbar to track internet searches...
- FlashGet
FlashGet is a freeware download manager for Microsoft Windows...
- Gator
Claria Corporation was a software company based in Redwood City, California with products many considered spyware. It was established in 1998 by Denis Coleman. Its name was often used interchangeably with its Gain advertising network, which it claimed serviced over 40 million users...
- Mirar Toolbar
The Mirar Toolbar, also known as Mirar, is an adware application that is typically installed as a bundle with other software. It is often installed without user consent....
- MyWay Searchbar
The MyWay Searchbar, also known as the MyWay Speedbar, MyWay Search Assistant, MyWebSearch, MyAllSearch, and MyWeb Searchbar, is adware or toolbar program that replaces an Internet browser's default search engine with MyWay's website...
- Viewpoint Media Player
Viewpoint Media Player is a browser graphics rendering plug-in originally produced by Viewpoint Corporation, a subsidiary of the marketing company DG Fastchannel .-Description:...
- WhenU SaveNow
- Zango products
Zango, formerly ePIPO, 180solutions and Hotbar, was a software company that provided users access to its partners' videos, games, tools and utilities in exchange for viewing targeted advertising placed on their computers. Zango software is listed as adware by Symantec...
- Zwinky
- HotBar
- Tencent QQ
Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in mainland China. As of July 11, 2011, the active QQ users accounts for QQ IM totaled 812.3 million, possibly making it the world's second largest online community. The number of simultaneous...
- Play Pickle
Devices
The Amazon Kindle 3 family of e-book readers have versions called "Kindle with Special Offers" that display ads on the home page and in sleep mode, in exchange for substantially lower pricing compared to the ad-free devices.
See also
- Computer insecurity
Computer insecurity refers to the concept that a computer system is always vulnerable to attack, and that this fact creates a constant battle between those looking to improve security, and those looking to circumvent security.-Security and systems design:...
- Greynet
Within the context of corporate and organizational networks, a greynet is an elusive networked computer application that is downloaded and installed on end user systems without express permission from network administrators and often without awareness or cognition that it is deeply embedded in the...
- Hosts file
The hosts file is a computer file used in an operating system to map hostnames to IP addresses. The hosts file is a plain-text file and is conventionally named hosts.-Purpose:...
- Play mp3.exe (trojan)
Play_mp3.exe is a trojan horse. It is an executable file downloaded from a website which promises the user a free MP3 or MPG player.-The trojan:...
- Typhoid adware
Typhoid adware is a new potential type of computer security threat identified by researchers from the University of Calgary which does not require the affected computer to have adware installed in order to display advertisements on this computer...