Category - Adware

Adware is advertising-supported software that displays pop-up advertisements. Adware is usually available via free downloads from the Internet. Adware is often bundled with or embedded within freeware, utilitarian programs like filesharing applications, search utilities, information-providing programs (such as clocks, messengers, alerts, weather, and so on), and software such as screensavers, cartoon cursors, backgrounds, sounds, etc. Although seemingly harmless, some adware programs may track your Web surfing habits. Deleting adware may result in the deletion of the bundled freeware application.

Worst case scenario: Adware may track a user's online habits and transmit this information to a third party. Adware delivers pop-up ads which may annoy a user and consume valuable bandwidth.