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In other cases adverts were
imbedded directly into the download only being removed when the software was
registered. Many well known software companies, including Netscape distributed
ad supported versions, which allowed users to use the software for free.
Developers were compensated either by install or the number of ads served.
Advertisers welcomed new revenue streams to reach potential customers.
Adware or advertising-supported
software is any software application in which advertisements are displayed while
the program is running. These applications include additional code that displays
the ads in pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen.
Adware helps recover program development costs, and helps to hold down the price
of making the application for the user, often making it free of charge. As a
result of the AdWare revenue programmers were motivated to write maintain, and
upgrade valuable ad-enabled software. Adware was a great consumer trade off, so
were did it all go wrong?
Unbeknownst to the developers a
handful of ad serving companies were logging and profiling the surfing habits of
those who had downloaded the ad-enabled software. After downloading free
software, the new adware companies delivered pop-up and pop-under ads based on
the consumers surfing interests. Adware has been criticized for including code
that tracks a user's surfing habits, email address and personal information,
which are passed to third parties, without the user's authorization or
knowledge. This was the downfall of the ad serving technology and ad-enabled
software.
In many cases consumers
rightfully believe they have been and are being spied on, which prompted an
outcry from privacy advocates. Adware is not a virus and may not be detected by
anti-virus scanning programs. It does not spread the same way as most viruses
spread. Many users do not know they are downloading a free program along with
adware onto their computer. The lack of disclosure tarnished reputations of many
well known, but misfortunate developers and software companies. The collapse of
a number of venture backed ad-serving companies including Aureate and Conducent.
Fast forward to today. Few
applications are now ad enabled. Those that are generally follow strict
disclosure guidelines. Some developers opt to insert static (not changing) ads
for other applications in their product line, into free versions, but these ads
do not change and there is no record of what ads are clicked. Freeware can
therefore be used free of charge and there is no evaluation time period as with
shareware. Freeware is also often a basic or stripped down version of the
shareware version. Developers make money off ads or those who want to upgrade
from the free version. There are also developers who provide freeware out of
principle, occasionally asking for a donation. The majority of freeware that
employs the use of imbedded advertisements are provided in the true spirit of
adware without the intent to track users, but just to be safe consumers should
read the fine print.
Kaspersky, Anti-Virus & Anti-Hacker Software
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