= Definition =

Adware or advertising-supported software is any Software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used.

= Application =

Adware helps some developers recover programming development costs, and it may allow the software to be provided to the user of the application free of charge or at a reduced price: due to the advertising, the programmer may still profit from the wide use of their work, motivating them to write, maintain, and upgrade the software product.

Some adware is also shareware, as such it may be used as term of distinction used 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, which typically does away with the advertisements. Other types of shareware include demoware, nagware, crippleware, freeware, loyaltyware, and even Spyware.

= 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 become spyware when another user visits that computer, and interacts with and is tracked by the adware without her consent.

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.

=Particular adware programs=

=See also:=

=External links:=