<P> In the view of Federal Trade Commission staff, there appears to be general agreement that software should be considered "spyware" only if it is downloaded or installed on a computer without the user's knowledge and consent . However, unresolved issues remain concerning how, what, and when consumers need to be told about software installed on their computers for consent to be adequate . For instance, distributors often disclose in an end - user license agreement that there is additional software bundled with primary software, but some panelists and commenters did not view such disclosure as sufficient to infer consent to the installation of the bundled software . </P> <P> The term adware is frequently used to describe a form of malware (malicious software) which presents unwanted advertisements to the user of a computer . The advertisements produced by adware are sometimes in the form of a pop - up or sometimes in an "unclosable window". </P> <P> When the term is used in this way, the severity of its implication varies . While some sources rate adware only as an "irritant", others classify it as an "online threat" or even rate it as seriously as computer viruses and trojans . The precise definition of the term in this context also varies . Adware that observes the computer user's activities without their consent and reports it to the software's author is called spyware . However most adware operates legally and some adware manufacturers have even sued antivirus companies for blocking adware . </P> <P> Programs that have been developed to detect, quarantine, and remove advertisement - displaying malware, including Ad - Aware, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spyware Doctor and Spybot--Search & Destroy . In addition, almost all commercial antivirus software currently detect adware and spyware, or offer a separate detection module . </P>

When is a spyware referred to as adware
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