Adware

Thus, through the article on Malware, type of virtual attack, the concept of Adware emerges.

Adware– Advertising + Software- is software, which may or may not be considered malware, which displays unwanted and invasive ads on any screen, usually within a browser, in order to collect information about the victim, so that, in a next invasion, be it content that interests, leading to a click on the part of the individual. Its most recurrent method is to disguise itself as legitimate sites or to “ride” from trusted sites so that users feel confident with the information and, consequently, install the services on their devices. In general, it all comes down to a computer program that displays ads that do not come from the site you visit, thus generating revenue for the hacker.

These unintended ads may appear on a main screen or on a new screen that appears during the installation process of the downloaded software. In addition, it may happen that new tabs are opened in the browser, a change to the homepage or redirection to websites with inappropriate content.

Adware can enter your computer in two ways:

• Freeware or Shareware: adware can be associated with these types of programs.
• Infected sites: by visiting one of these types of sites, an unauthorized installation of adware may occur.

To understand if you are under Adware attack, we expose the main effects noted:

• Ads appear in inappropriate and unexpected places;
• The browser’s home page has been changed without permissions;
• Web pages visited regularly, are not displayed correctly;
• The links are not directed to the expected sites;
• The browser is extremely slow and has flaws, suddenly appearing new toolbars, extensions or plug-ins;
• Your computer starts to install unwanted applications without your consent.

This software can take several formats, such as:

The classic, which is characterized by an endless stream of ads that appears at once, sometimes serving as a bridge to another ad.

Identical to other malware, spyware, specializes in tracking all online and offline activities done on the device, in order to draw the most appropriate advertisement according to the victim’s preferences.

It is defined as sites that redirect traffic to malicious systems, displaying advertisements. However, this attack occurs even on supposedly trusted sites.

Most common types of Adware:

Developed by a Chinese Digital Marketing company, Rafotech, it is a browser hijacker, that is, a browser hijacker. It is accompanied by the Mustang browser and Deal Wifi, installed without the user’s knowledge. When Fireball infects a computer, it takes over the browser, changing the homepage to a fake search engine, inserting intrusive pop-up ads on any page visited.

Developed by a Chinese Digital Marketing company, Rafotech, it is a browser hijacker, that is, a browser hijacker. It is accompanied by the Mustang browser and Deal Wifi, installed without the user’s knowledge. When Fireball infects a computer, it takes over the browser, changing the homepage to a fake search engine, inserting intrusive pop-up ads on any page visited.

With the same modus operandi as the browser hijacker, Appearch is included in another free software, which is characterized by including an exaggerated number of advertisements in the browser, making navigation almost impossible. Even if you manage to visit a website, this adware converts textual pieces into links, so that every time you select that text, a pop-up ad opens to offer a download. Also, it may happen that a warning appears saying that the page has limited access, so to access it, it is necessary to subscribe to certain notifications. Once subscribed, the program rewrites the settings, making it impossible to cancel them.

Using the same method as other adware, DeskAd acts very discreetly and gradually assumes full control of the browser. Usually, this type is distributed via email attachments, changing the registration of the device. Still, it can replicate itself, overloading the memory and the processor.