Software with unnecessary code which slows the function of the host software, steals resources from the host computer, and violates privacy of the user.

No one well informed in their right mind would run software that only displayed privacy violating internet ads. Similarly no one sane and well informed would want software to embed internet ad rendering code surreptitiously or directly.

Software is payware or not-payware. There is no middle ground held by malware. The COST of using adware is violated privacy, less processing power, and less bandwidth. Adware is SELF EVIDENTLY NOT freeware nor free in any sense of the word.

Malware is software that violates the user in one or more ways.

ALL adware is malware BY DEFINITION

Anyone claiming otherwise is ignorant, evil, or delusion.

real-freeware includes Open Source, a complex movement that offers code out of selflessness.
ALL software on android market claiming to be freeware but rendering internet ads IS adware and by definition malware.

ALL installers using opencandy adware IS MALWARE -- and especially nefarious as it runs with admin rights.
by Sculpting Hegemony May 27, 2011
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A close relation to spyware.

A program that either downloads itself to your machine without permission, or bundled with other software, that secretly spies on you in order to direct advertising at you.

Can be removed with Ad Aware or Spybot Search and Destroy
Damn adware
by ChibiTaryn August 1, 2003
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An annoying virus that infects your pc or phone giving you ads and popups and is gotten mainly from piracy sites suchas romsmania, coolrom, gamefabrique, and the famous torrent clients uTorrent and Bittorrent and youtubers that use adfly links.

Some examples of adware include:

WebHelper
Webdiscover
Webnavigator
Lavasoft Adaware (when installed by unknown source)
Any romsmania download on android
I installed adware on my pc and can't remove it
by Cumdog with mustard April 28, 2021
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Windows Vista, the most FAIL operating system ever created for its generation.
Kaspersky : DING! Your computer has viruses!
Norton : DING! Your computer is infected!
Spybot : DING! Your computer has spywares!
McAfee : DING! Your computer has Trojans!
Ad-Aware : DING! Your computer has adwares!

You : Viruses Infections Spyware Trojans and Adware! Screw this, I'm getting Windows 7.
by Prodo123 March 8, 2010
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