Computer Fraud : Adware

Computer Fraud: Adware Name: Course Title: Instructor: Institution: Date Due: Computer Fraud: Adware Computer fraud is a major problem that many organizations, businesses as well as individuals face every day. Due to the internet’s extensive coverage, some individuals use it to obtain personal information of others and critical data of businesses and organizations illegally. This paper is focused on discussing “adware”, one of the many methods used to commit computer fraud, and the measures that should be put in place to prevent one from falling into the hands of computer and or internet fraudsters. Definition According to Elgin (2004), Adware is a form of computer software that displays advertisements in the form of pop-ups on computers when connected to the internet. Elgin adds that the malicious Adware software monitors the computer user’s activities and is able to steal the user’s information, thereby violating people’s privacy. The Adware program is closely similar to spyware. How it occurs The Adware occurs as a result of the software applications that have been installed on the internet user’s computer. This software steals and sends information about the browsing behavior of the end-user to the pop-up provider, which in turn serves the pop-up adverts. Adware program or programs run on a computer and monitor an individual’s activities by displaying adverts related to the individual’s computer activities. The pop-up adverts displayed on the victim’s computer match the sites that the user occasionally visits or the items related to the ones the internet user mostly clicks on (Elgin, 2004). If many adware programs run on one’s computer, the behavior or the speed of the computer may lag and even can slow the internet browsing speed. Elgin states that marketers are increasingly using Adware pop-up ads to reach as many internet users ...