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Adware:
Application
Adware is software integrated into or bundled with a program. It is
usually seen by the programmer as a way to recover programming development
costs, and in some cases it may allow the program to be provided to the
user free of charge or at a reduced price. The advertising income may
allow or motivate the programmer to continue to write, maintain and
upgrade the software product.
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.
Controversy
There are concerns about adware because it often takes the form of
spyware, in which information about the user's activity is tracked,
reported, and often re-sold, often without the knowledge or consent of the
user. Of even greater concern is malware, which may interfere with the
function of other software applications, in order to force users to visit
a particular web site.
It is not uncommon for people to confuse "adware" with "spyware" and
"malware", especially since these concepts overlap. For example, if one
user installs "adware" on a computer, and consents to a tracking feature,
the "adware" becomes "spyware" when another user visits that computer, and
interacts with and is tracked by the "adware" without their consent.
Spyware has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy
advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Often,
spyware applications send the user's browsing habits to an adserving
company, which then targets adverts at the user based on their interests.
Kazaa and eXeem are popular programs which incorporate software of this
type.
Adware programs other than spyware do not invisibly collect and upload
this activity record or personal information when the user of the computer
has not expected or approved of the transfer, but some vendors of adware
maintain that their application which does this is not also spyware, due
to disclosure of program activities: for example, a product vendor may
indicate that since somewhere in the product's Terms of Use there is a
clause that third-party software will be included that may collect and may
report on computer use, that this Terms of Use disclosure means the
product is just adware.
A number of software applications are available to help computer users
search for and modify adware programs to block the presentation of
advertisements and to remove spyware modules. To avoid a backlash, as with
the advertising industry in general, creators of adware must balance their
attempts to generate revenue with users' desire to be left alone.
