Adware, Spyware, Popups, Virus Exposed!
Many times shorthanded names are devised that are suppose to make it easier to remember terms, but instead just add up confusing people - adware is one such term. Adware is short for Advertising-supported software, just knowing that makes the concept a little clearer.
Adware often gets confused with spyware, and while these two terms aren’t mutually exclusive, they are not inclusive either. Adware is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. This includes anything from ads in pop-up windows to banners in your web browser. Spyware, on the other hand, consists of computer software that gathers - and reports back to a third party - information about a computer user without the user’s knowledge or consent. Software can have both adware and spyware at the same time. But once again, these terms aren’t inclusive, and not all adware is spyware, and most importantly, spyware is not easily detected by displaying ads.
So what’s all this fuss about adware, is it really that bad? Most people want to have their cake and eat it too, but adware is like having cake and being forced to give a gift in return. Adware helps recover programming development costs, and helps to keep the price down for the average user, even making it free of charge on some occasions. Adware can also be found in programs. Shareware is software that you can download free of charge, which allows you to try out the program ahead of time, before you buy it. It’s analogous to trying out clothes in the store before you purchase them. Many shareware programs are limited in their function and must be purchased in order to have access to the full program. Many times adware is used in shareware programs to remind users to pay for a “licensed” copy of the program, in which case the adware will disappear. In these cases, adware is just an itch that never goes away, a thorn in your thigh. Most of the time before you download any shareware program, if you bothered to read the lengthy licensing agreement, it will outline whether adware is used in the program. Often times if you try to disable the adware, the shareware program will stop working altogether, so my advice in these cases is to either live with the ads or to fork up the dough for the “registered” version.
Adware has been living in the shadows of spyware, but on its own adware is nothing more than an annoyance. For example, many of you probably have a peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing program such as Kazaa. These programs are distributed to the user free of charge, but what you may not know is that it is well-equipped with its share of adware programs. A few of these adware serve ads right to the desktops of unwitting users and others regularly redirects users Web browsers to a search engine full of advertiser-sponsored search results. Kazaa’s license agreement does clearly state the existence and intent of their program, but how many people really read those agreements anyways? Adware becomes more troubling when a user unknowingly receives adware from visiting a website that downloads the adware or without an End User License Agreement.
How do you know if you have adware? Chances are you have adware on your computer right now: Have mysterious icons ever appeared on your desktop? Or have you ever had a site appear in your browser’s favorites folder that you are certain you didn’t add yourself? These my friends, are examples of unsolicited adware. There is a fuzzy line between what constitutes adware and spyware. Adware developers must balance their attempts to generate revenues, with the users’ desire for privacy. Adware is undeniably a problem, a problem that is most likely here to stay. As a PC user, the only thing that you can really do is to protect yourself. Listed below are some adware programs that can help you triumph in a personal battle against adware, and the greater of the two evils, spyware.
Noadware® is an all encompassing program, capable of detecting everything from adware and spyware, to dialers and web bug traces. Not only will it detect and clean out adware/spyware already on your computer, in addition it is capable of preventing such items from ever entering your computer. With over twenty-one million downloads that has got to be enough to make you check it out – twenty-one million people can’t be wrong! Xoftspy® is another multi-faceted adware/spyware scanner and remover. This product is a creation of Paretologic, a trusted manufacturer of privacy software applications. XoftSpy has one of the largest virus databases in the industry, and is frequently updated to ensure that any new spyware/adware items are caught. This program is very user-friendly, simple to use, whether you know nothing about computers or an expert. Spyware Nuker®, with such a beefy name, there is definitely a reputation to live up to! This adware/spyware program is extremely hands-on, an excellent program for users who want to have more control over the scanning/removing process. Although a user of little computer knowledge could probably navigate through, this is a more advanced adware remover program.
Most people have an indisputable trust towards the internet, probably because they access it within the comforts of their home, in a safe environment and have an illusion of control over what they view. But on the other side of that LCD monitor and wireless broadband connection, there lies many predators. These people are ordinary individuals, you probably shop at the same grocery store with them and go to church with them. These people aren’t bad people, many are just trying to earn a decent living, at your expense (hey big businesses do it all the time!). So be wary of all things you access on the internet, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!
About The Aurthor
Lynda Wong
Free Spyware Adware Removal Tool
http://antivirussoftware.ca