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Badware is software that fundamentally disregards a user’s choice regarding how his or her computer will be used. You may have heard of some types of badware, such as spyware, malware, or deceptive adware. Common examples of badware include free screensavers that surreptitiously generate advertisements, malicious web browser toolbars that take your browser to different pages than the ones you expect, or keylogger programs that can transmit your personal data to malicious parties.
While some types of badware seem more annoying than dangerous, the consequences of badware infections can be quite harsh. Badware can cause computers to become slow, unresponsive, or even unusable. Personal information gathered by spyware can be abused, and financial or other personal data that falls into the wrong hands can lead to identity theft. Some forms of badware steal resources instead of information, perhaps by adding your computer to a network of hijacked machines called a botnet, that can then use your computer to send spam and phishing emails or even to help distribute more badware.
Badware producers are constantly developing new, creative ways to install badware onto your computer. Badware distribution has been expanded beyond traditional channels like email viruses to harder-to-avoid methods like automated “drive-by downloads” that are launched by compromised web pages.
Badware can be difficult to avoid, especially because it is not always obvious when your machine is affected. Some manufacturers bundle badware with other applications without disclosing that it’s part of the package. You can even be infected with badware simply by visiting a website that has been compromised by attackers; these attackers embed ‘drive-by downloads’ in otherwise legitimate websites, which then silently install applications on your computer, completely without your knowledge or consent. These programs are usually also hidden on your computer, making it difficult to identify and remove them.
Why do badware producers go to the effort of producing harmful software? Badware has become a booming industry, with an estimated annual value of over $2 billion USD. Some badware is produced for outright theft, while other badware is designed to support shady marketing schemes which drive web traffic or product sales. An estimated 59 million Americans currently have spyware or other malicious badware installed on their computers.
Badware production and distribution is only profitable if enough computers can be infected to support the costs and risks associated with developing software that exploits consumers. We hope that by educating users to avoid and remove malicious software, we can help reduce the profitability of badware business models.
If you are concerned that you may have downloaded badware, please read about how to remove it.
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