adware
Adware is a type of software that may display advertisements on your system. Some adware may also hijack Web searches, meaning it may reroute your Web searches through its own Web page. It may change your default home page to a specific Web site. Adware generally propagates itself using dialog boxes, various social engineering methods, or through scripting errors. Adware and BHOs are often bundled with various free software programs, such as clocks, messengers, alerts, and software such as screensavers, cartoon cursors, backgrounds, sounds, etc. Removing adware bundled with free software programs may cause the software to stop operating. These adware programs may also cause slowing of your Web browser and system performance issues.