Freeware, Adware or Spyware - What's the Difference?

Internet users see the words freeware, adware and spyware on a regular basis, but they often can't clearly define the terms and identify how they differ. There's usually some overlap between the terms, yet each is also distinct.

Freeware

Freeware is copyrighted computer software that's made available for use free of charge, for an unlimited time. It's protected by copyright, so the author receives both credit for the software they created and the right to retain control of its future development.

The software license attached to freeware may also impose one or more other restrictions on its use, including personal use, individual use, non-profit use, non-commercial use, academic use, commercial use or any combination of these uses.

A subtle distinction does exist between freeware and free software. Freeware costs nothing, but free software means free to study, change, copy, redistribute, share or use. Some programs can be both freeware and free software. A good rule of thumb is that freeware usually doesn't come with the source code and is therefore defined more properly as proprietary software.

Adware

Adware is, as the name suggests, advertising-supported software. It automatically plays, displays or downloads advertising material to a computer once the software is installed or while the application is running. Since advertising revenues largely sponsor adware, the program that's downloaded appears at a greatly reduced cost or is even free of charge, with the only caveat being that the adware comes with it.

When a user downloads a piece of adware, the user must consent to the terms, including the addition of advertisements to Internet browsing. Users may, however, also be given the option to pay for a "registered" or "licensed" copy to do away with the advertisements.

Adware may cross the line into spyware. It does this when information about the user's activity is tracked, reported, or re-sold, without the knowledge or consent of the user. It may also interfere with the function of other software applications, slow down a computer significantly or force users to visit a particular Web site during the course of their online browsing.

It's not uncommon for people to confuse "adware" with "spyware," especially because these concepts overlap. For example, if one user installs "adware" on a computer, and consents to a tracking feature, the "adware" becomes "spyware" when another user visiting that computer is tracked at the same time without their consent. And in many cases, clicking a consent button to install software according to the terms set without reading the small print may open the door to invasive spying.

Spyware

While certain adware programs gain a user's consent to ‘spy' on online activities, spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their consent.

Such activities as logging keystrokes, recording Internet Web browsing history, and scanning documents on the computer's hard disk are all examples of invasive spyware behavior. The hacker can use information obtained in this manner for any purpose, ranging from direct criminal theft of passwords and information to selling findings for marketing purposes.

Spyware is more common than may be imagined. Fortunately, data security companies like F-Secure and others have made significant gains in detecting these hidden threats and providing a spyware-free computing environment for consumers.

Disclaimer: TDS Internet Services provides this page as a benefit to customers so you can learn more about security. TDS Internet Services does not represent that this page or any information on it will meet your requirements or prevent unauthorized access to your computers, network, servers, and other equipment, or to any data information or files on any of them. The information provided by TDS Internet Services should not be construed as an endorsement of particular security products or a customer’s security practices.

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