We have all been there. You open up a website and all of the sudden you are hit with annoying pop-up ads. Ads that are flashing, jumping up and down, and or just plain annoying and trying to sell you something. These are what are considered adware. Not just any adware but privacy invading adware. Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software. Some adware is non-invasive. It is put there by the programmer as a way to recover the cost of programming development, and sometimes even provide you the user a basic package free of charge or at a reduced rate so that then you can decide if you want to buy it. The privacy-invasive type of adware can also download and install things onto your computer as well as send your personal information and web surfing habits to third-parties without your knowledge. These programs can also install on your computer desktop pop-up ads, worthless icons on your desktop, open pop-up windows, slow down your computer and your internet connection, and redirect your browser to an advertising page. There are many other things that adware programs can do most of which you may not like. Luckily for those of us who can’t program computers many programs have been developed to detect, quarantine, and remove spyware. Some are more useful than others. When adware software invades your computer and sends out your information without your permission it is usually called spyware. When the adware software attacks your computer or uses it to attack another computer or system it is usually referred to as malware. As a result a lot of these detection programs have been developed to detect, quarantine, and remove adware as well. Adware removal programs are used so that you can protect yourself as well and others from the harmful effects of these types of programs. Among the more prominent of these applications are Adware Deluxe and OptOut. These programs are designed specifically for spyware detection and will not detect viruses, although some commercial antivirus software can also detect adware and spyware, or offer a separate spyware detection package. For more information you can visit my website where I have reviewed several Adware programs. http://andcal.bezoogle.com/pp/adware/. If the link doesn’t work then you can just copy and paste it into your browser.