Adware takes many forms, from the benign free e-mail client that displays ads in its interface to the stealth utility you didn't know you installed that causes browser pop-ups and sends statistics on your Internet usage back to a central server. Our scorecard shows the more notorious adware and rates it based on its behavior. Find out what's on your system by running CNET CatchUp's Adware Detect service, PestPatrol or Lavasoft's Ad-aware.
| Software or company title |
Install disclosure |
Displays ads |
Causes browser pop-ups |
Tracks usage |
Collects personal info |
Still live? |
Severity |
| Alexa |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
4 |
| Annotate.net |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
2 |
| AOL SmartDownload/ Real RealDownload/ Download Demon |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| Blackstone Data Transponder\VX2 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
10 |
| Conducent\Timesink |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
n/a |
| Creative Labs News Update |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
n/a |
| Cydoor |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
3 |
| EverAd |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
n/a |
| Expedioware |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
n/a |
| eZula TopText/ContextPro/ HOTText |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| Flyswat/ NBCi QuickClick |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
? |
2 |
| FTapp/FlashTrack |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
10 |
| Gator OfferCompanion |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
7 |
| GoHip/InternetFuel |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
7 |
| Hotbar |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| Marketscore (Netsetter) |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
4 |
| Mattel BrOdcast |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
1 |
| Message Mates |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| NetAngel (Mirazo) |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
2 |
| NewDotNet |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
3 |
| Onflow |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
4 |
| Radiate (Aureate) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
6 |
| RealJukebox |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
2 |
| SaveNow |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
8 |
| SpediaBar |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| SpeedBit -Download Accelerator |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
5 |
| Web3000 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
10 |
| Webhancer |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
1 |
| WNAD |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
6 |
| Severity reference |
No=3 |
Yes=1 |
Yes=2 |
Yes=1 |
Yes=3 |
No=n/a |
Max=10 |
Category key
Install disclosure: Does the application ask permission to be installed? Some adware installs surreptitiously, piggybacking on another installation that you've agreed to. A single mention of the adware in a license for another application isn't enough to consider installation has been disclosed.
Displays ads: Does the application display ads somehow? An ad can be a traditional banner or a link to an advertiser site that was not coded into the original Web page being viewed.
Causes browser pop-ups: Does the application trigger browser pop-up windows separate from any coded into the site being viewed? Pop-up ads are annoying, especially when you know the site you're on doesn't use them.
Tracks usage: Does the application record what sites you visit and what links you click? Usage tracking is nothing new, and many Web sites keep track of internal traffic. But an application on your computer can track usage across multiple sites.
Collects personal info: Does the application store your name, e-mail address, IP address, or other personal info? This insidious feature can be devastating to privacy, especially when combined with usage tracking. Many adware companies don't consider IP addresses personal information, but since that address is unique to your computer, we do.
Still live: Does the company that the application reports back to still exist? Adware makers tend to be fly-by-night companies that appear and disappear pretty rapidly. The software may still be out there, but if it's reporting back to a server that's been taken offline then it is not much of a threat.
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