{"id":3831,"date":"2022-02-10T09:36:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T13:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/security-information-event-management\/?p=3831"},"modified":"2022-02-10T16:57:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T20:57:15","slug":"a-cybersecurity-guide-to-identifying-and-preventing-adware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/security-information-event-management\/a-cybersecurity-guide-to-identifying-and-preventing-adware\/","title":{"rendered":"A Cybersecurity Guide to Identifying And Preventing Adware"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cybersecurity<\/p>\n

As part of Solutions Review’s Premium Content Series\u2014a collection of contributed columns written by industry experts in maturing software categories\u2014Grace Lau, the Director of Growth Content at Dialpad<\/a>, shares some insights on identifying and preventing adware from affecting your company’s security.<\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

At first glance, adware might appear to be the less-threatening younger sibling of ransomware and spyware. However, its increased prevalence over the last decade\u2014coupled with a burgeoning remote working culture\u2014means it poses a significant threat to private and professional cybersecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n

This nefarious method of hacking that targets private user data and re-works devices into hackers’ advertising platforms may not lead to the same level of reputational damage or data loss as more well-known threats. Still, it’s quickly become a <\/span>leading plight on devices we’ve come <\/span>to rely on every day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So what is the state of play regarding adware, and how can you keep your devices secure and adware-free?<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Download<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

What is Adware?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Adware, also known as advertising-supported software, is often malicious software used to display online adverts. <\/span>Adware automatically displays irritating and intrusive ads such as pop-ups while users are on their devices, often imitating legitimate companies or promoting scams. <\/span>Adware can infect desktop and mobile devices and has developed from nuisance to genuine threat. From Google themselves reporting that their 2015 survey <\/span>found over five million infected users<\/span><\/a> to Kaspersky’s assertion in 2021 that <\/span>adware accounted for 48% of all malware<\/span><\/a>, the threat it poses has been well documented.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does adware infiltrate a device?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Adware developers rely on lax attitudes to cybersecurity to access victims’ devices. <\/span>Businesses, in particular, can easily be tricked by the promise of discounts, accessibility, and free trials for legitimate products, as they look to match pace with competitors and lower overall costs. Whether they’re looking to reduce their <\/span>VoIP phone cost<\/span><\/a> or experimenting with an<\/span> open-source management system<\/span>, workforces with less stringent cybersecurity measures are at risk of accidental infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adware typically infects a device in one of three main ways:<\/span><\/p>\n