Legal Commentary

Scareware forms a fake security software

By David Canton

For the London Free Press – September 27, 2010

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Most of us are familiar with the terms “software” and “hardware”. Over the years, many other “ware” words have been coined to describe the myriad applications available today.

There are a variety of terms for software designed to harm your computer. For example, “malware” (or “scumware”) describes software developed to harm your computer. It includes things such as viruses and worms, and often uses communication tools such as e-mail and instant messaging programs to spread from computer to computer.

“Scareware” is a type of malware. A form of fake security software, it claims that your computer is infected with viruses, and persuades the user to buy a full version of software that will “clean” the infection. It tries to scare users into buying a product. The product you buy could simply be unnecessary, but it could also be intended to damage your computer. It is even possible to become infected with scareware without buying the software, for example, if the user tries to close the notification. Some scareware messages are particularly deceptive because they are designed to look like they were generated by your computer’s operating system.

“Spyware” is another kind of malware that collects personal information about users without their knowledge. The information it collects is often used for the purposes of advertising and identity theft. Some can also slow down your computer, causing applications to freeze and systems to crash.

“Junkware” refers to unwanted, and often intrusive, software. It may be installed with the user’s consent when the user accepts an end-user licence agreement, but it typically serves no useful purpose. It can include adware, spyware, as well as “hijackware”, which can, among other things, set the user’s default Internet homepage to a site of its choice.

There are forms of “wares” that are less harmful, but equally annoying. “Annoyware” (or “nagware”) describes software that users find annoying. Such as software that frequently disrupts the normal operation of a program to remind users to register it.

“Adware” displays advertisements while the software is running. Although it can be harmless, and is typically used by application developers as a source of income, they can include spyware. Similar to “Adware” is “Beggarware”, a form of “freeware” that encourages the user to donate to the freeware’s author.

There are also terms for software with limited functionality. “Shareware” free software is sometimes limited in its functionality, availability or convenience. It may be trial or demo software. Additional features become available if the user chooses to purchase the full version. “Crippleware” refers to an even more restricted type of shareware.

Bloatware (or “fatware”) is software that uses so many resources it slows your system. A recent example of this is some pre-loaded applications found on Android smartphones.

Not all wares are evil, though. “Charityware”, for example, is a type of software whose end is to benefit a charity by encouraging its users to donate to a charity, instead of paying for the software.

Full post as published by eLegal Canton on September 27, 2010 (boomark / email).