Adware is a sneaky little devil of a program that can hide all over the Internet. All those fun free downloads and your favorite websites are the perfect places for adware to hide, making it extremely difficult to escape. This article will help you learn the most prevalent hiding places and give you advice on preventing an adware from making itself at home on your computer.

Freeware – It is said that freeware can be found predominately in freeware. This is due to the fact that freeware doesn’t cost anything, and most adware and pop-up software are found to be supporting it. Freeware, as the name suggests, is totally free and can be downloaded and used by anyone without cost, and all the originator of the software really desires here is credit for their work. Don’t confuse this with open-source software, despite their similarities. What’s the main difference? Users of freeware can not only download the software, but you are only allowed to modify open-source software, whereas that’s not the case with freeware.

As the name implies, freeware is supposed to be free. The creator of the free cannot ask you to pay a fee to download the software. Instead, a creator can ask for voluntary donations or pay for the costs of running a website and giving out free software out of their own pocket. Another option is having adware programming mixed in with the freeware. Putting adware and pop-up software in the freeware programs give the creator a source of revenue and keep them from opening their own wallets or begging for donations.

Shareware – The next most common place where adware can be found is in shareware. Shareware is very similar to freeware, including the bundling of adware. Both shareware and freeware are very much the same (both being free to use and download), but in the case of shareware, the author will actively ask for donations for using their software. Although this cannot really be enforced and works on the honor system, any donations received will keep the shareware project alive and up to date.

Expecting everyone to be honest is quite a leap of faith. This is why adware often shows up shareware, people just don’t pay. Advertiser pay good money to have their adware put into the shareware programs. This helps the creator keep the shareware site up and running. Without the use of adware, many shareware sites would go the way of the dinosaur.

3. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Applications: Peer-to-Peer, or P2P, applications are the least likely place to find adware when compared to freeware and shareware. That does not mean it never happens, just look at the P2P software Kazaa. Adding the adware to the Kazaa program caused quite a stir in the past. Unfortunately, with out the use of adware, Kazaa would have run out of funding. This would have caused the discontinuation of the site.

All in all, knowing the main places adware can be found will help to make you more cautious when you decide to download any free programs online. It is vital that people understand that even though adware might be hidden within anything they download, they shouldn’t be too worried. There are so many excellent free programming out there that can give the commercial programs a run for their money. And, if you find adware within a program you downloaded, you can always get an adware removal tool or a special security program to get rid of it.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading Spyware And Adware Removal Software brand. For more information visit: http://www.spywareremovaldoc.com