What is Adware? Definition and Examples

All of a sudden, you notice that you’re getting bombarded with popup ads every time you’re online. On the surface, it seems like nothing more than a huge annoyance, but it can be far more sinister than that. In this article, we’ll examine adware, look at some examples, and explore solutions to help you overcome the hidden threat this kind of potentially unwanted program poses. 

Adware Definition

The word “adware” is an abbreviation for advertisement-supported software. Once it has installed itself, you will experience an increase in pop-up ads and banner ads appearing on your phone or computer when browsing online. 

When you interact with this advertising, the adware developer generates revenue from the advertisers. Since more clicks mean more revenue, adware often gathers browsing information, helping the program to target you with more “relevant” ads. 

What Risks are Associated With Adware?

The top risk of adware lies in its ability to gather information, including sensitive information, from your browsing history. This data can be sold or transferred to fraudsters who can use it for scamming, phishing attacks, fraud, and even blackmail. Besides this, adware can undermine your device’s security, opening a path for additional infections.

Simply put, adware tracks browsing history, and it may even introduce a keystroke logger that tracks every piece of information you type. It can also redirect you to malicious sites when you click an otherwise-innocuous link. With the rise of website spoofing, it may even look like you’ve reached the site you expected to, presenting yet another opportunity for bad actors to get their hands on your data. 

Where Does Adware Come From?

You’ve probably guessed that almost nobody willingly installs adware on their devices. So, where does adware come from? 

Sometimes, it’s bundled with free software that users install on their devices – highlighting the fact that there really is no such thing as a “free lunch.” If the software displays ads itself and you have to view advertising to access functionality, that isn’t necessarily malicious.

More sneakily, clicking on an untrustworthy link can also lead to software being installed without your permission – and of course, adware is only one of the types of malware that can infect your device using this route. 

Finally, adware could have found its way onto your device through malware loaders – software that helps hackers bypass your security precautions so that unwanted or malicious software can be installed. This is a very serious cyber threat and if you suspect that you are affected, you should get expert help. 

Types of Adware

Adware can be categorised based on how you got it and what it does. The main types of adware are:

Legitimate adware: Yes, there are occasions when people download adware with eyes wide open. To persuade users to permit adware, the developers will offer an incentive. For example, you may qualify for a discount. This type of adware is seen as “legitimate” since you consented to installing it. 

PUPs: Most adware falls into the category of potentially unwanted programs, abbreviated as “PUPs.” You don’t knowingly consent to its installation, and it’s anything but cute!

Browser hijackers: A particularly nasty form of adware, this type switches up your browser settings. You’re no longer in control of navigation and you can be involuntarily directed to advertising or malicious websites. 

Device-specific adware: Targeting specific operating systems, device-specific adware may be made for Windows or Mac computers or targets mobile devices using Android or IoS operating systems. 

Adware Examples

Although we know that adware can collect sensitive data that can later be used in other forms of cyberattack, these can be difficult to trace back to specific adware infections. However, we can identify some of the biggest adware epidemics to hit the web. Here are some of the most famous. 

• Bonzi Buddy acted as a virtual assistant, but also acted as adware. Its makers were fined $75,000 for online privacy violations. 
• Gator didn’t even pretend to be benign. At its peak, it infected up to 35 million computers and advertised aggressively. 
• CoolWebSearch acted as a browser hijacker and is believed to have generated revenue totalling hundreds of millions of dollars for its creators. 
• AskToolbar comes from a legitimate company and has reached millions of users. It wasn’t malicious in itself, but it opened a pathway for hackers with some versions containing adware and spyware. It was bundled with Java updates giving it plenty of reach. Java has since parted with Ask.com. 
• Fireball: This was a browser hijacker that can act as a malware downloader and it spread like wildfire, infecting more than 250 million computers around the world.
   

How to Tell if You Have an Adware Infection

The most obvious “tell” is the barrage of popup and banner ads that hits you. While you’re sure to encounter advertising around the web from time to time, Adware makes its presence felt in no uncertain terms. 

Other warning signs include batteries that drain quickly, crashes, increased data usage, slowed down performance, changes to your browser’s home page, being redirected to suspicious websites, or noticing the presence of apps you don’t recall downloading. 

How Adware Impacts Businesses

Adware initially targets individuals, but if they are in your business’s network and use a device infected with adware, your business’s data could be at risk. We’ve recently discussed different forms of phishing, and from a business’s perspective, the presence of adware can compromise your data. 

It not only collects browser histories, it may actively direct users to unsafe sites where malware takes advantage of browser vulnerabilities to install malicious software. As a result, your business and its customers could be at risk of an attack far more serious than a screen full of unwanted popups.

How to Prevent Adware Infections

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to avoid installing adware. The most important precaution lies in educating yourself and your employees about online risks. Good cyber security measures and a little housekeeping cover the rest of your bases. Here’s a quick summary:

• Use robust antivirus software
• Never download apps from unverified sources
• Don’t install “free” software unless it’s from a reputable source like Microsoft
• Don’t download unnecessary apps or software and delete outdated apps and software along with anything you no longer need
• Update all software that you use to take advantage of the latest security features
• Never click pop-up ads. If they seem to be proliferating, get help in removing adware and any other PUPs that may have made themselves at home on your devices

How Advantex Protects Your Organisation

In business contexts, information is an extremely valuable asset, and if you don’t take good care in securing it, there’s a good chance that it will be stolen. And, when sensitive information falls into the wrong hands, it can be used against your business or its customers. 

While adware is risky, it’s also pretty obvious. Not all threats are as easy to spot. The need for good cyber security management and technical expertise is pressing. Contact us today to gain access to world-class cyber security services through Advantex. Focus on your business while we focus on keeping you informed and your data and systems safe.