In Computing, What is Adware?

What is Adware?

Adware (or advertisement software) is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while a program is running or when you are "surfing" a website.  They are usually in the form of a banner or a pop-up window.  These adware ads also contain additional code that when "clicked", will pay the author of the program or website a small commission for bring in a sale.  These ads help in the development and programming cost that it takes to run a program or website. 

Adware by its self is harmless.  But recently adware has been criticized because it usually includes code that tracks a user's internet habits and passes it on to third parties for a price, without the user's authorization or knowledge. 

Advertising functions are integrated into or bundled with the software, which is often designed to note what Internet sites the user visits and to present advertising pertinent to the types of goods or services featured there. 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. Conversely, the advertisements may be seen by the user as interruptions or annoyances or as distractions from the task at hand.  It is a delicate balance of having just enough "adware" ads on a website to where the author is still receiving some compensation, to where the user can get fed up with having to see too many ads.

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