Editing Adware

{{Short description|Software with, often unwanted, adverts}}
{{For|the anti-malware program|Adaware}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tyagi |first=Amit Kumar |last2=Abraham |first2=Ajith |date=2022-05-26 |title=Recurrent Neural Networks |url=https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003307822 |doi=10.1201/9781003307822|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

'''Adware''', often called '''advertising-supported software''' by its developers, is [[software]] that generates revenue by automatically displaying [[Online advertising|online advertisements]] in the user interface or on a screen presented during the installation process.

The software may generate two types of revenue: one is for the display of the advertisement and another on a "[[pay-per-click]]" basis, if the user clicks on the advertisement. Some advertisements also act as [[spyware]],<ref name="FTC-REPORT-2005">FTC Report  (2005). "[http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/03/050307spywarerpt.pdf]"</ref> collecting and reporting data about the user, to be sold or used for [[targeted advertising]] or [[Profiling (information science)|user profiling]]. The software may implement advertisements in a variety of ways, including a static box display, a banner display, a full screen, a [[video]], a [[pop-up ad]] or in some other form. All forms of advertising carry [[Criticism of advertising|health, ethical, privacy and security risks]] for users.

The 2003 ''Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security'' and some other sources use the term "adware" differently: "any software that installs itself on your system without your knowledge and displays advertisements when the user browses the Internet",<ref name="MS-Enc-Sec">{{cite book
 |title = Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security
 |publisher = [[Microsoft Press]]
 |location = Redmond, Washington
 |year = 2003
 |first = Mitch
 |last = Tulloch
 |editor1-first = Jeff
 |editor1-last = Koch
 |editor2-first = Sandra
 |editor2-last = Haynes
 |page = 16
 |isbn = 978-0-7356-1877-0
}}</ref> i.e., a form of [[malware]]. Some developers offer software free of charge and rely on advertising revenue to recoup their expenses and generate income. Some offer a version without advertising, for a fee.

== Types ==
In legitimate [[software]], the advertising functions are integrated into or bundled with the program. Adware is usually seen by the developer as a way to recover development costs and generate revenue. In some cases, the developer may provide the software to the user free of charge or at a reduced price. The income derived from presenting advertisements to the user may allow or motivate the developer to continue to develop, maintain and upgrade the software product.<ref name="zdnetfeature">{{cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/feature-ad-supported-software/|title=Feature: Ad-supported software|first=David|last=Braue|date=4 September 2008|work=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> The use of advertising-supported software in business is becoming increasingly popular, with a third of [[information technology|IT]] and business executives in a 2007 survey by [[McKinsey & Company]] planning to be using ad-funded software within the following two years.<ref name="informationweek">{{cite news|url=http://www.informationweek.com/businesses-warm-to-no-cost-ad-supported-software-/d/d-id/1054803|title=Businesses Warm To No-Cost, Ad-Supported Software|last=Hayes Weier|first=Mary|date=5 May 2007|work=[[Information Week]]|access-date=4 December 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808025452/http://www.informationweek.com/businesses-warm-to-no-cost-ad-supported-software-/d/d-id/1054803|archive-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> Advertisement-funded software is also one of the [[business models for open-source software]].

=== Application software ===
Some software is offered in both an advertising-supported mode and a paid, advertisement-free mode. The latter is usually available after buying a license or registration code that unlocks the mode or a separate version of the software.{{efn|For example, in 2007 [[Microsoft]] changed its productivity suite [[Microsoft Works]] to be advertising-supported.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-works-to-become-a-free-ad-funded-product/604|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720142403/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-works-to-become-a-free-ad-funded-product/604|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2010|title=Microsoft Works to become a free, ad-funded product|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|newspaper=Zdnet|date=30 July 2007|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> Works was subsequently replaced with the [[Microsoft Office 2010]] software suite operating in a "starter" mode that included advertisements.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-adds-an-office-starter-edition-to-its-distribution-plans/4197|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515054234/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-adds-an-office-starter-edition-to-its-distribution-plans/4197|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 May 2010|title=Microsoft adds an 'Office Starter' edition to its distribution plans|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|date=9 October 2009|work=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> {{As of|2012}}, this product is also being phased out and replaced with [[Office Online]] (formerly Office Web Apps).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-begins-phasing-out-starter-edition-of-its-office-suite/13001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623203434/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-begins-phasing-out-starter-edition-of-its-office-suite/13001|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 June 2012|title=Microsoft begins phasing out Starter edition of its Office suite|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|date=21 June 2012|work=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref>}}

Some software authors offer advertising-supported versions of their software as an alternative option to business organizations seeking to avoid paying large sums for software licenses, funding the development of the software with higher fees for advertisers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ad-supported-software-reaches-specialized-audience-3501806.php|title=Ad-supported software reaches specialized audience|first=Ari|last=Levy|date=23 April 2012|newspaper=[[SF Gate]]|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref>

Examples of advertising-supported software include [[Adblock Plus]] ("Acceptable Ads"),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adblockplus.org/acceptable-ads|title=Allowing acceptable ads in Adblock Plus|website=adblockplus.org|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref> the [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] version of the [[Internet telephony]] application [[Skype]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itnews.com.au/News/250426,skype-now-free-ad-supported-software.aspx|title=Skype now free ad-supported software|first=Liam|last=Tung|date=11 March 2011|publisher=iT News for Australian Business|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> and the [[Kindle 3|Amazon Kindle 3]] family of [[e-reader|e-book readers]], which has versions called "Kindle with Special Offers" that [[display ad]]vertisements on the home page and in sleep mode in exchange for substantially lower pricing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kindle, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology&nbsp;— includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Special-Offers-Wireless-Reader/dp/B004HFS6Z0|work=[[Amazon.com]]|access-date=4 August 2011}}</ref>

In 2012, [[Microsoft]] and its advertising division, [[Microsoft Advertising]],{{efn|Formed in 2008 following Microsoft's acquisition of digital marketing company [[aQuantive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/msn/factsheet/MSAdTimeline.mspx|title=Microsoft Advertising Historical Timeline|date=September 2008|publisher=Microsoft Advertising|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref>}} announced that [[Windows 8]], the major release of the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system, would provide built-in methods for software authors to use advertising support as a business model.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://advertising.microsoft.com/ads-in-apps |title=Windows 8 Ads in Apps |publisher=Microsoft Advertising |access-date=20 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121121192941/http://advertising.microsoft.com/ads-in-apps |archive-date=21 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.advertising.microsoft.com/msa/en/global/b/blog/archive/2012/10/01/windows-8-ads-in-apps-concepts-agency-partners-advertising-week-2012.aspx|title=Microsoft Advertising Unveils New Windows 8 Ads in Apps Concepts with Agency Partners at Advertising Week 2012|last=Kim|first=Stephen|date=1 October 2012|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927224909/http://community.advertising.microsoft.com/msa/en/global/b/blog/archive/2012/10/01/windows-8-ads-in-apps-concepts-agency-partners-advertising-week-2012.aspx|archive-date=27 September 2013|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> The idea had been considered since as early as 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5951569.html|title=Microsoft eyes making desktop apps free|last=Fried|first=Ina|date=14 November 2005|newspaper=[[CNET]]|access-date=20 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124140201/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5951569.html|archive-date=24 November 2005}}</ref> Most editions of [[Windows 10]] include adware by default.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Chris |title=How to Disable All of Windows 10's Built-in Advertising |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ |website=howtogeek.com |date=9 March 2017 |access-date=25 August 2020}}</ref>

=== Software as a service ===
Support by advertising is a popular business model of [[software as a service]] (SaaS) on the [[World Wide Web|Web]]. Notable examples include the email service [[Gmail]]<ref name="zdnetfeature"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Teeter|first=Ryan|title=Google Apps For Dummies|isbn=978-1-118-05240-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5TUv9jCaJdwC&pg=SA3-PA27|author2=Karl Barksdale|pages=3–27|date=9 February 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}</ref> and other [[Google Workspace]] products (previously called Google Apps and G Suite),<ref name="informationweek"/> and the social network [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/archive/facebooks-ad-revenue-hit-1-86b-for-2010/|title=Facebook's Ad Revenue Hit $1.86B for 2010|author= by Jolie O'Dell 203|date=17 January 2011|website=[[Mashable]]|publisher=Mashable.com|access-date=21 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Womack |first=Brian |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-20/facebook-revenue-will-reach-4-27-billion-emarketer-says-1-.html |title=Facebook Revenue Will Reach $4.27 Billion, EMarketer Says |publisher=Bloomberg |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=21 December 2011}}</ref> Microsoft has also adopted the advertising-supported model for many of its [[social software]] SaaS offerings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/meet-microsoft-the-advertising-company/419|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210062021/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/meet-microsoft-the-advertising-company/419|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2013|title=Meet Microsoft, the advertising company|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|date=3 May 2007|work=[[ZDNet]]|access-date=20 November 2012}}</ref> The [[Microsoft Office Live]] service was also available in an advertising-supported mode.<ref name="informationweek"/>

== Definitions of spyware, consent and ethics ==
In the view of [[Federal Trade Commission]] staff,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/03/050307spywarerpt.pdf|title=FTC Staff Report. Monitoring Software on Your PC: Spyware, Adware, and Other Software|last=Majoras|first=Deborah Platt|date=March 2005|publisher=Federal Trade Commission|access-date=4 April 2005}}</ref> there appears to be general agreement that software should be considered "[[spyware]]" only if it is downloaded or installed on a computer without the user's knowledge and consent. Unresolved issues remain concerning how, what and when consumers need to be told about software installed on their computers. For instance, distributors often disclose in an [[EULA|end-user license agreement]] that there is additional software bundled with primary software, but some participants did not view such disclosure as sufficient to infer consent.

Much of the discussion on the topic involves the idea of [[informed consent]], the assumption being that this standard eliminates any ethical issues with any given software's behavior. If a majority of important software, websites and devices were to adopt similar behavior and only the standard of informed consent is used, then logically a user's only recourse against that behavior would become not using a computer. The contract would become an [[ultimatum]]—agree or be [[social ostracism|ostracized]] from the modern world. This is a form of [[Coercion#Psychological|psychological coercion]] and presents an ethical problem with using implied or inferred consent as a standard. There are notable similarities between this situation and binding [[arbitration]] clauses which have become inevitable in contracts in the United States.

Furthermore, certain forms and strategies of advertising have been shown to lead to psychological harm, especially in children. One example is childhood eating disorders—several studies have reported a positive association between exposure to beauty and fashion magazines and an increased level of weight concerns or eating disorder symptoms in girls.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=The impact of the media on eating disorders in children and adolescents|first1=Anne M|last1=Morris|first2=Debra K|last2=Katzman|date=5 September 2003|journal=Paediatrics & Child Health|volume=8|issue=5|pages=287–289|doi=10.1093/pch/8.5.287|pmid=20020030|pmc=2792687}}</ref>

== Malware ==
The term ''adware'' is frequently used to describe a form of [[malware]] (malicious software)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/keep-a-clean-machine/malware-and-botnets|title=Malware & Botnets|author=National Cyber Security Alliance|author-link=National Cyber Security Alliance|publisher=StaySafeOnline.org|quote=The terms 'spyware' and 'adware' apply to several different [malware] technologies...|access-date=4 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213043120/http://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/keep-a-clean-machine/malware-and-botnets|archive-date=13 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/itsecurity/basics/malicious-software/ |title=Viruses and other forms of malicious software |date=5 July 2012 |publisher=[[Princeton University]] Office of Information Technology |quote=malware also includes worms, spyware and adware. |access-date=4 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224024932/http://www.princeton.edu/itsecurity/basics/malicious-software/ |archive-date=24 December 2012 }}</ref> which presents unwanted advertisements to the user of a computer.<ref name="AAA">{{cite news|url=http://www.spywareloop.com/news/adware|title=Adware in SpyWareLoop.com|author=Vincentas|date=11 July 2013|newspaper=Spyware Loop|access-date=27 July 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323203234/http://www.spywareloop.com/news/adware|archive-date=23 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/securitycenter/spyware-glossary#Adware|title=Malware from A to Z|publisher=[[Lavasoft]]|quote=[Adware] delivers advertising content potentially in a manner or context that may be unexpected and unwanted by users.|access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref> The advertisements produced by adware are sometimes in the form of a [[Pop-up ad|pop-up]], sometimes in an "unclosable window" and sometimes injected into web pages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/glossary/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320110430/http://staysafeonline.org/data-privacy-day/glossary/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2013 |title=Data Privacy Day Glossary |author=National Cyber Security Alliance |author-link=National Cyber Security Alliance |publisher=StaySafeOnline.org |quote=Adware: type of malware that allows popup ads on a computer system, ultimately taking over a user's Internet browsing. |access-date=4 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Latest in Malware: eFast Browser Attacks with False Google Chrome, Traps Users with Adware |url=https://baymcp.com/latest-in-malware-efast-browser-attacks-with-false-google-chrome-traps-users-with-adware/ |website=Bay Computing |access-date=11 September 2021 |date=30 March 2017}}</ref>

When the term is used in this way, the severity of its implication varies. While some sources rate adware only as an "irritant",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.rm.com/TechnicalArticle.asp?cref=TEC276510|title=Spyware, Adware and Malware&nbsp;— Advice for networks and network users|publisher=[[RM Education]]|access-date=4 December 2012|quote=[Adware] tend[s] to be more of an irritant than do actual damage to your system, but [is] an unwanted presence nonetheless.}}</ref> others classify it as an "online threat"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/news/2008/20080916_120000_y.aspx |title=McAfee, Inc. Names Most Dangerous Celebrities in Cyberspace |publisher=[[McAfee]] |quote=online threats, such as spyware, spam, phishing, adware, viruses and other malware... |access-date=4 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604000640/http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/news/2008/20080916_120000_y.aspx |archive-date=4 June 2013 }} [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=MFE:US&sid=af3z.yT5vNW8 Copy] available at Bloomberg.</ref> or even rate it as seriously as [[computer virus]]es and [[Trojan horse (computing)|trojans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/spyware/040318assocofsharewareproff.pdf|title=Spyware, Adware, Malware, Thief: Creating Business Income from Denial of Service and Fraud|last=Stern|first=Jerry|work=ASPects, Newsletter of the Association of Shareware Professionals|publisher=[[Association of Software Professionals]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917022453/http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/spyware/040318assocofsharewareproff.pdf|archive-date=17 September 2012|quote=Adware has become a bad word, linked to spyware and privacy violations by everyone except the publishers of the products... [it was] a good thing ten or fifteen years ago, and [is] bad now... [t]he lines for adware are even being blended into virus and trojan territory.}}</ref> The precise definition of the term in this context also varies.{{efn|A workshop held by the [[Federal Trade Commission]] in 2005 asked representatives of the computer, electronic advertising and anti-spyware product industries, as well as representatives of trade associations, government agencies, consumer and privacy advocacy groups to define adware and its relation to spyware; there was no clear consensus.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ookz_2ONmwgC|title=Spyware Workshop: Monitoring Software on Your Personal Computer: Spyware, Adware and Other Software|publisher=[[Federal Trade Commission]]|date=March 2005|page=2|isbn=9781428952577}}</ref>}} Adware that observes the computer user's activities without their consent and reports it to the software's author is called [[spyware]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fo2a7YtU1GUC|title=Internet and the Law: Technology, Society, and Compromises|last=Schwabach|first=Aaron|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|year=2005|isbn=978-1-85109-731-9|page=10}}</ref> Adware may collect the personal information of the user, causing privacy concerns.<ref>Urban, Tobias, Dennis Tatang, Thorsten Holz, Norbert Pohlmann. 2019. “Analyzing leakage of personal information by malware”. Journal of Computer Security 27(4): 459-481.</ref> Most adware operates legally and some adware manufacturers have even sued antivirus companies for blocking adware.<ref name=vonteera/>

Programs have been developed to detect, quarantine and remove advertisement-displaying malware, including [[Ad-Aware]], [[Malwarebytes (software)|Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware]], [[Spyware Doctor]] and [[Spybot – Search & Destroy]]. In addition, almost all commercial [[antivirus software]] currently detect adware and spyware, or offer a separate detection module.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/honeycutt_spyware.mspx|title=How to protect your computer from Spyware and Adware|last=Honeycutt|first=Jerry|date=20 April 2004|work=Microsoft.com|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207042601/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/honeycutt_spyware.mspx|archive-date=7 February 2006}}</ref>

A new wrinkle is adware that disables anti-malware and virus protection; technical remedies are available.<ref name="vonteera">{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/latest-adware-disables-antivirus-software-152920421.html|title=Latest adware disables antivirus software|last1=Casey|first1=Henry T.|author-link1=Henry T. Casey|date=25 November 2015|work=Tom's Guide|publisher=[[Yahoo.com]]|access-date=25 November 2015}}</ref>

Adware has also been discovered in certain low-cost [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices, particularly those made by small Chinese firms running on [[Allwinner Technology|Allwinner]] [[System on a chip|systems-on-chip]]. There are even cases where adware code is embedded deep into files stored on the system and boot partitions, to which removal involves extensive (and complex) modifications to the [[firmware]].<ref name="CMtrojan">{{cite web|url=https://www.cmcm.com/blog/en/security/2015-11-09/838.html|title=Decompile: Technical analysis of the Trojan|date=9 November 2015|publisher=[[Cheetah Mobile]]|access-date=7 December 2015|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227223633/https://www.cmcm.com/blog/en/security/2015-11-09/838.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In recent years, [[Machine learning|machine-learning]] based systems have been implemented to detect malicious adware on [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices by examining features in the flow of network traffic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alani |first=Mohammed |date=2022 |title=AdStop: Efficient flow-based mobile adware detection using machine learning |journal=Computers & Security |volume=117 |pages=102718|doi=10.1016/j.cose.2022.102718 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Malvertising]]
*[[Online advertising]]
* [[Typhoid adware]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{software distribution}}
{{Malware}}
{{Information security}}
[[Category:Adware| ]]
[[Category:Online advertising]]
[[Category:Types of malware]]