Panda_man said:
in part:
Panda_man>>> Yes ,but most (even ALL) adwares are unwanted ,right.
So they should be removed.
Not if YOU were the one that chose to install the software and if YOU were
the one to choose to tolerate the ads in exchange for the otherwise free
software. Some users don't want to pay for commercialware, so they opt for
adware with the same functionality. After all, look how many users still
continue to use Hotmail and Yahoo with their webmail interfaces which are
full of ads. CuteFTP used to be adware (but stopped). FreshDownload was a
download manager with ads (but they quit, too). Some products simply push
up a banner (i.e., bannerware) but that is also adware (i.e., they advertise
just one advertiser: themself). UltimateZip is adware but not everyone
wants to buy Winzip, PKzip, or another commercial solution so they suffer
the ad (i.e., the startup or banner screen). Callwave, while it existed,
was supported by ads. Since its demise, users ends up using eFax which
pushes ads in the e-mails they send containing the fax attachment and also
send separate e-mails with ads.
If an author has expenses, like a web host from which users can download the
program, for the compilers or other software to develop the product, for the
bandwidth for an Interconnect connection, and so on, they could distribute
it as shareware and *hope* that a few users pay for continuing to use the
product (or expire it and piss off all users, even those that cheat by not
paying after the trial period), they can try using adware to recoup some of
their costs, or they can distribute it for free and absorb all costs (which
results in LOTS of good programs that disappear when the author cannot
afford to maintain or distribute it anymore). I have used some
adware-supported products in the past but I'll be looking for another
non-adware product in the meantime, or decide to donate/buy to get rid of
the ads. I would never use any adware that demands any personal identifying
information, like address, phone, or even my e-mail address (or I'd use an
e-mail alias, like one from Sneakemail). Not everyone works for free or can
continue doing so for an extended length of time. Even if they don't want
to get paid for their work, they may still have expenses to provide the
product to you and other users. Not many have bottomless pockets to supply
you with free software.
If it is adware that was overtly installed by choice of the user then it is
not malware. It was adware installed without *overt* consent by the user
then it is malware because it pushes ads into the face of the user for which
they did not agree to see. Many adwares also track the users navigation
within the ads (if the user decides to see more) or their use of the
adware-supported product, and many consider that tracking as an invasion of
privacy, but that invasion is the same as how cookies work.
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml
There's is good adware, and there is bad adware. If you choose to install
it, if it is overt that it will install, if it is explicitly identified as
part of a bundled install, if it permits uninstallation (without or without
the bundled software), if it has an explicit and available privacy policy,
and otherwise behaves just like any other application, then it is good
adware. Like bad cops, it is the bad adware that ruins that type of
software. There are lots of folks using adware that know it is adware but
choose to exchange the cost of seeing ads (and maybe some tracking) instead
of their money.
If you need the functionality offered in an adware product, I'd suggest
hunting around some more to see if there is something else that isn't adware
supported. But if there is nothing else and you don't want to part with
your money then you need to decide if you are willing to part with screen
space for ads and perhaps some of your privacy but which may not have any
personally identifying information beyond just your IP address.
