Spyware, adware and tracking

The term adware regularly refers to any software which displays advertisements, whether or not the user has consented. Programs such as the Eudora mail client show advertisements as an option to shareware registration fees. These classify as "adware" in the good judgment of advertising-supported software, but not as spyware. Adware in this form does not work surreptitiously or mislead the user, and provides the user with a specific service.

Although most adware is spyware in a dissimilar sense for a different reason: it displays advertisements associated to what it finds from spying on you. Visited Web sites regularly install Gator on client machines in a surreptitious manner, and it directs proceeds to the installing site and to Claria by displaying advertisements to the user. The user receives a lot of pop-up advertisements.