Adware, short for advertising-supported software, is a type of software that displays unwanted advertisements on a user's device. It can be installed unknowingly by users while downloading free software or bundled with legitimate programs. The primary purpose of adware is to generate revenue through advertising by delivering targeted or intrusive advertisements to the user. Adware can also track user behavior and collect personal information for marketing purposes. In some cases, it can degrade system performance and pose security risks if it contains malicious code.
