Trojan adware is a type of malicious software, or malware, that can end up on a person’s computer and then open up that computer to future attack or nuisance. This type of malware can potentially only be annoying for a computer user, though it can also create a number of security threats and may lead to more serious computer issues. It will usually monitor the habits of a computer user, especially searches a person makes and websites that are visited, and then use that information for a number of purposes. Trojan adware can typically be detected and removed through an adware scanner; regular computer scans can prevent excessive damage due to such programs.
While malware can consist of a number of different types of programs and software, a Trojan adware program is a potentially serious threat. At surface value, other types of malware, such as worms and viruses, may be more serious, but a Trojan adware program can create opportunities for more malicious activity or attacks on a computer. This type of malware consists of a program that includes various aspects of two specific types of malware: adware and Trojans.
Adware is a malware program that monitors the activities of a computer user and then uses that gathered data for a number of purposes. This is often used to transmit data, such as Internet searches entered or websites viewed, to an external host that then uses that information for a variety of purposes. Adware, including Trojan adware, can also cause advertisements to be displayed on a computer, usually as pop-ups, though banner ads can be created as well. While some adware is installed legitimately onto a computer, usually while installing a different program, Trojan adware is typically malicious in nature.
A Trojan is a type of malware that gets onto a computer and then allows other programs or systems to access that computer. Much like the apocryphal Trojan horse, it gets through the protection of a computer and then lets in other programs or users. This means that a Trojan adware program would become installed onto a computer, gather and potentially transmit data about the user of that computer to an outside source, and allow outside sources future access to a computer system. Unless removed, the Trojan adware could allow other types of malware to be installed onto a computer system, including more invasive programs such as spyware that can gather personal data, including passwords and bank account information, and send that data to external systems.