Adware is an advertising computer program that can be put there by other people on someone's computer, sometimes without their permission. It is controversial because sometimes businesses put the program there so they can see what people are doing or what web pages they are browsing. They then put an advertisement that is of the same subject as the web-page the person is looking at. This can be good if the person is trying to buy something, but many people do not want advertisements. Many people also do not want other people to find out what they are doing or what web pages they are looking at. An example is in the popular peer-to-peer file sharing program, Kazaa. When someone downloads it, it installs adware on their computer that then sends advertisements to the computer. Some people do not like this so they use an illegally changed version of this program called Kazaa Lite.
Adware
Questions and Answers
Q: What is adware?
A: Adware is a computer program that displays advertisements on someone's computer, often without their permission.
Q: How do people get adware on their computer?
A: Adware can be put there by other people, often without the owner's permission, through various means such as downloading software, opening email attachments, and clicking on pop-up ads.
Q: Why is adware controversial?
A: Adware is controversial because it can be used by businesses to gather information about someone's online activities and display targeted advertisements, which some people may find intrusive and a violation of their privacy.
Q: Can adware be used for legitimate purposes?
A: Yes, adware can be used for legitimate purposes such as displaying relevant advertisements based on someone's browsing history or interests.
Q: How can someone prevent adware from being installed on their computer?
A: Someone can prevent adware from being installed on their computer by using anti-virus and anti-malware software, being cautious about downloading software and opening email attachments from unknown sources, and blocking pop-up ads.
Q: What is Kazaa and how does it relate to adware?
A: Kazaa is a popular file-sharing program that installs adware on a user's computer to display targeted ads. Some people use an illegally modified version called Kazaa Lite to avoid the unwanted ads.
Q: Why do some people not like adware?
A: Some people do not like adware because it can be intrusive, slow down their computer, and compromise their privacy by collecting data on their online activities.