Grayware definition and what does it consists of

Grayware is the most accurate way to call a “potentially unwanted program”. It is not a virus and obviously it is not as malicious as the huge amount of other types of code that are on the Internet. But let’s not kid ourselves on this matter, even if it has the basic features, you have to remove the grayware from the computer it is on! Not only is it very likely that it is already bothering you every time you use your machine, but it must be the cause of your computer’s slowness problems.

At its most harmless, grayware infections are just a nuisance. For example, some graywares bombard your computer with pop-up notices (pop-up windows), the result of which is to slow down the Internet service, in addition to making it much more difficult to eliminate all the pop-ups that appear.

In other situations, grayware could track your every step while you are online and browsing the Internet. In any of these situations, the reality is that grayware, just by being on your computer, can open the way for other, more damaging types of problems. We can say that grayware is the path that allows other forms of malware to enter your machine and of course we don’t want that.

Grayware can come from activities such as:

▸Download softwares from the internet or files from peer to peer networks like kazaa.

▸Open infected emails.

▸Click on a pop-up ad.

Although the most common category of Grayware is “Spyware”, others are known:

▸Dialers: This type of Grayware controls the computer modem. Most of the time, without the user’s consent, they cause the computer to call up a pornographic or other site always for the purpose of generating revenue for the website.

▸Adware: Usually embedded in so-called freeware or free programs. “Adware” is used to present annoying pop-ups or windows that open when surfing the Internet or using an application.

▸Spyware: They are usually bundled with freeware. These programs track and analyze user activity, such as Internet browsing habits.

▸Games: These programs are games that are installed and cause annoyance since they “run” on the computer without the user asking for it.

Other reads:
Main differences of Worm, Trojan and virus

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