What is Ad-ware?

Ad-ware is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for ad-ware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps to hold down the cost for the user.

Ad-ware has been criticized for occasionally including code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge. This practice has been dubbed Spy-Ware and has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center.