Adware is Part Stealth, Part In-Your-Face

Sam Bloedow
adware cybersecurity threats

 Adware is a type of cyberthreat that is part stealth, part in-your-face. When you see advertisements pop -up in your window, you might not realize at first that they shouldn’t be there because pop-ups are a familiar, if irritating, part of a web browsing experience. You’ll probably discern very quickly, however, that the ad isn’t coming from the page that you’re currently visiting. By the time the ads are in your face, you have had a security breach on your computer or device and the malicious software has already been gathering information about you and possibly doing other bad things.

Sneaky and Annoying

Adware is a software designed to put advertisements in front of you while you are active on your computer or device. It can be a legitimate, if sneaky way for a software developer to recoup costs for software that you downloaded, but it can also be a type of malware called of spyware that gathers information about you, and provides a way for other malware to exploit your system. Adware is annoying when it triggers unstoppable pop-ups that disturb your activity. It can take you places you don’t want to go on the internet as it redirects you to the advertisers that fit the profile it creates from your browsing history. It can slow down your computer and eat up data all while it’s interrupting you with unwanted messages.

How You Get Adware

Adware can come from infected websites where exploit kits are used to gain entrance to your device and then provide access for this type of malicious software to download without your knowledge. It can be bundled with software that you downloaded and complicity permitted by accepting the licensing agreement or by not noticing the little check box to accept the download along with the desirable software. You can also get it by clicking on an ad, sometimes, ironically, for anti-spyware.

How to Avert Adware

The best cybersecurity plan has different layers of protection that include being aware of what you are doing online. Be selective about what you download and when you do decide that you need a program, read the licensing agreement and notice if there are any checkboxes that you need to untick. Before downloading any program for business, check with IT to assure that the program is compatible and the best choice for your purpose.

Businesses that have a multi-layer approach to security that includes technical and non-technical components will have the best success at limiting all types of cyberthreats. Cybersecurity should be a part of IT strategy and a matter that is discussed and reviewed at all levels of the organization.

Learn more about the cybercrime ecosystem and how you can mitigate the risks of cyberthreats by accessing our on-demand webinar - Cybersecurity: Why Your Business is More Vulnerable Than You Think and What to Do About It

Adware is Part Stealth, Part In-Your-Face

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