Spyware Information: AdStatus
This application is adware. Adware is not normally a threat, but is usually considered a nuisance. It might have been installed by another application. It can pop up advertisements even if you have a popup blocker on your computer. It can monitor your computer usage to generate ads that you are more likely to respond to. Adware can consume processing power and network bandwidth, thus slowing down your computer and interrupting your workflow.
- Size: 71,922 bytes
- Threat level: Low (more info...)
- Detections: 10,455 this month: 0
- Author: Unknown
- Appeared: 2/2/2005
Research
- Method of infection: AdStatus is installed via ActiveX drive-by download from websites that use WindUpdates as a sponsor for their content.
AdStatus appears to be a clone of WindUpdates.
- Advertising: AdStatus installs a toolbar in Internet Explorer which will change your homepage and search page. It will display advertisements in the toolbar related to the web sites you surf, the links and advertisements you click, and the information you enter into web forms. It will also create targetted popup advertisements.
- Privacy issues: AdStatus collects information about your web-surfing habits, including URL, web page content, and information entered into web forms, and sends that information back to its controlling servers.
- Privacy policy: AdStatus is likely to cause some system instability on older computers or computers with other browser-helper objects installed.
- Stability issues: AdStatus can silently and automatically install third-party software without any human interaction.
Spyware Detection Stats
- Spyware Fingerprints: 91,859
- Detections: 6,792,655
- Detections this Month: 802
Spyware Search
Recommended
Keep your computer safe. Automatically keeps up-to-date to protect from the latest threats.
