Adware, short for advertising-supported software, is a type of software that automatically displays or downloads advertising material (often in the form of pop-ups) when a user is online. It’s a way for developers to earn income from users who are using their software for free.
However, not all adware is benign. In some cases, it’s used as a form of malicious software that can intrude upon your privacy and open up your system to other unwanted software. Some adware can monitor your browsing habits and send this information to marketers without your knowledge or consent.
Here are a few characteristics of malicious adware:
- Invasive Advertising: While all adware delivers advertisements, malicious adware does so in an invasive way. It may display pop-ups constantly, redirect your browser to advertising websites, or change your home page or search engine to one that’s ad-heavy.
- Data Collection: Adware can monitor your online activities and collect your personal information, including websites visited, search queries, and even personal data like your name and email address. This data is then sold to third-party advertisers.
- System Slowdown: Because adware runs continuously in the background, it can use up your system resources and slow down your computer or make your internet connection sluggish.
- Difficult to Remove: Some adware is designed to be difficult to remove. It may not be listed in your list of installed programs, or it may reinstall itself after being deleted.
To protect yourself from adware, it’s important to download software only from trusted sources. You should also read all terms and conditions before installing any software to make sure you’re not unintentionally agreeing to install adware. Additionally, keeping your operating system and antivirus software up-to-date can help protect your system from adware and other types of malware.