Battling more popups than usual lately?
Your computer could be infected with adware, a bug that inundates users with online advertisements.
Any internet user knows that ads are par for the course in the cyber world; however, adware can manifest itself in an unusually egregious display of online promotions.
At the same time, purveyors of adware benefit from staying below the radar, too. This means you might see additional ads around the content you’re browsing that could blend in with other sponsored content.
These ads usually boast free prizes or giveaways. Adware isn’t just a nuisance, either; in some cases, it can pilfer your sensitive information and track your web activity, even when you’ve configured your browser settings not to track your online history.
Advertising Software
Adware is short for advertising software, and can be transferred to computers through downloading free applications. The software tracks a user’s browsing history and then creates related ads in the form of popups.
Adware developers are paid for the software’s advertising and reimbursed for clicks on specific ads. The occasional popup isn’t unheard of online, but if you’re receiving multiple ads in one session, you might have downloaded adware.
The most effective way to battle adware is having an updated, reputable anti-virus tool installed. Some unwanted applications, including adware, install a resuscitator program that allows them to keep running even after they’re removed.
Why It’s a Problem
While adware makes for a less-than-perfect internet browsing session, it can also act as more than just an annoyance.
When you’re experiencing advertisements outside of the program with which you downloaded the application in question, you might be experiencing a problem. Some forms of adware are malicious bugs that track your online habits and sell your information to third-party sources.
Protect yourself from malicious spyware by staying away from dubious emails or online advertisements. Adware that poses a threat is difficult to remove from your computer and often sent through a phishing scam or installed secretly.
Protecting Yourself
Even if you’ve picked up adware that isn’t malicious, it could still lead to slower load times and decreased PC productivity.
There are a couple of ways to protect yourself from adware. Keeping your software up to date is helpful, in addition to making sure you have anti-virus programs installed. It’s necessary to be wary of emails or popups that seem suspicious, too. As we’ve mentioned before, some things are too good to be true.
If you receive any email claiming to be from Sunrise Banks that doesn’t seem familiar, let us know. We want to ensure our clients are only interacting with content that has been sent directly from the bank.
Phishing attacks and malware will always be a threat to corporations – banks included – but they’re also preventable. Sunrise has numerous online cybersecurity resources, as well as a dedicated cybersecurity team that’s willing to help.
Get in touch to learn more about Sunrise Banks’ commitment to your online safety.