Adware

The idea that advertising supports and pays for many of the services we have is an old concept. Sponsorship is what we often hear and see in the media (television, newspaper, magazines and radio). The fact of the matter is, these advertisements support and pay for what we normally enjoy --- our favorite TV show and radio station, the magazines we read and the information we get from reading newspapers. In this internet age, the same concept applies all too naturally by putting advertisements in software. This is what we know as Adware.

Adware boom began in the mid-nineties. The idea for adware was very simple: software creators could incorporate advertisements in their product by having these ads played or displayed automatically or as soon as one downloads and installs the software. For many of these software creators who author and program freeware or shareware, adware is a very effective marketing tool. They would create software and then distribute it for free yet they might make little or no money out of their creation. But they could possibly make tons of money through adware. Software authors program special codes inside their application which then sends the ads onto the computer.

Adware works by installing third party applications in your computer system (like banner ads, survey forms and subscriptions which you fill-out) and are viewed via special bars or pop-ups that appear randomly your computer screens. The problem with adware though is that it can slow down your computer. Because adware retrieves advertisements from different servers or feeds information from your computer to their serves, it takes up a lot of your computer’s RAM cycles and resources. Sometimes, adware applications are also programmed improperly that it may cause your computer system to hang or bog down. And because adware displays the ads through pop-up windows which would often appear while the computer is used, it may get very annoying and obstructive. Concerns have also been raised against adware because of the fact that information from a user’s computer can be tracked or even sold in cyberspace. The idea that someone’s privacy may be invaded has caused for other people to brand adware as a very dangerous marketing tool.

However, not all adware downloads should be labelled as a security risk. Some could prove useful and pay for the freeware’s improvements and developments, which users could also benefit from. Adware downloads from the Opera browsers for instance, support and fund Opera’s further enhancements. It also helps to keep these kinds of software as “freeware” or at no cost to the user.

Applications with adware may be considered good and effective when:

• The Installation of an adware program has to be granted your permission first.
• The adware application may be easily un-installed if you feel you have no use for it.
• It does not change your browser settings and displays the ads without obstruction.

When adware really gets obstructive and annoying, and if you still feel that some security risk may be involved, you can opt to install an adware blocking tool or a blocker that prevents your computer from reading into adware servers. Many of these totals are available for purchase online. These programs have to be continually updated for it to work effectively.

By: Kistina Robin

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