This tip was printed from the MalekTips Computer and Technology Help and Tips website at http://malektips.com.

Spyware and Adware - Peer-To-Peer Software and Adware

SUMMARY: Downloading peer-to-peer file transfer software may introduce adware onto your machine.

If you use peer-to-peer software to access networks of files, you may have inadvertently installed spyware or adware on your machine.

To keep the software free, several of these networks receive money from the developers of spyware or adware to insert the software into the downloads. Some of these packages may be so ingrained with the spyware or adware that if you uninstall the spyware/adware either manually or with software such as Spybot or Ad-Aware, the peer-to-peer software will no longer function.

Thus, if you need to use such software, you should look for alternatives, including potential open-source alternatives that do not tack on such software.