Some software available for download on the Web is supported by advertising.
Software that is supported by advertising is often called "adware".
There a number of well known software titles that exchange their services for ads. Some examples are: HotBar, WeatherBug, any software published by
Claria (formerly called Gator) (including eWallet and Precision Date and Time Manager), and software (SaveNow) published by WHENU.COM.
Also, a site called purityscan.com is offering a "free" program that claims to scan your computer for pornography, but in fact leaves a "Trojan horse" on
your computer that displays many, many popup ads.
Often adware is included as part of the installation of peer-to-peer (p2p) file sharing services. For example, Grokster has participated in Gator's advertising network, GAIN,
and BearShare has included SaveNow from whenu.com, Inc. Kazaa (published by Sharman Networks) has been known to bundle very aggressive "adware" with
their p2p software. Removing the peer-to-peer software from your computer almost always leaves the bundled "adware" in place.
The easiest way to get rid of "adware" is to uninstall the software from your computer. If you know the program's name or publisher name, you can often uninstall
the program by finding the program in the Add / Remove Programs page of the Windows Control Panel.
If you don't know what software is producing the advertisements, there has been quite a bit of software written to help you find and uninstall or disable adware.
Many of our users have had good luck with a free program called SpyBot. You can find this program at CNET's download site:
Please make sure that you update this program's database of known adware before you scan your system. To do this, click on the "Search for Updates" button in the main window.
If you wish to try other "adware" removal programs, here is a search for the term "adware" on CNET's download site:
