Cookie 是您的网络浏览器在您上网时保存的小型数据包。Cookie 可帮助网站根据您的活动跟踪您的行为，以改进其产品和服务。除此之外，cookies还为用户提供更流畅、更便捷的上网体验。你们中的大多数人可能都知道不同类型的 cookie。但是有一些 cookie 与Adware相关联。这些 cookie 称为广告软件跟踪 cookie(Adware tracking cookies)。顾名思义，这些 cookie 旨在跟踪用户的在线行为和互联网历史。由于这些类型的 cookie 带有广告软件，它们可能对用户的隐私构成威胁。
一些流行的浏览器已采取措施保护用户的隐私。例如，Mozilla Corporation于 2020 年 在Firefox Quantum中引入了 增强型跟踪保护。现在，在 2021 年，它在 Firefox Quantum 中引入了Total Cookie Protection 。同样， 谷歌浏览器也有大量的安全扩展(Google Chrome has plenty of security extensions)。但是，作为用户，您始终担心我们的数据和隐私。因此，从您的网络浏览器中删除此类 cookie 是保护您的数据和隐私的最佳做法。
在本文中，我们将了解广告软件跟踪 cookie 的不同方面。我们还将看到保护您的数据和隐私免受此类 cookie 影响的不同方法。
什么是广告软件？
广告软件(Adware)是为营销目的而构建的一种特殊类型的计算机程序。广告软件(Adware)本身并不危险，但也不是一件好事。它可以成为不同类型恶意软件的宿主 ，从而损害您的计算机。除此之外，广告软件还存储了大量用户的搜索和浏览行为等数据。
当广告软件进入您的系统时，您将体验到糟糕的网页浏览体验。例如，当您登陆一个网站时，您的浏览器会显示许多弹出式广告，而不是直接向您显示该网站。广告软件(Adware)也像计算机病毒一样传播。大多数情况下，广告软件仍然隐藏在 cookie 中。
Cookie并非旨在窃取用户的个人数据或信息。相反，它们的开发是为了使用户的网络浏览体验更加流畅。例如，当您在特定网站上登录您的帐户时，它会保存您的一些信息，但不会保存您的密码。这样，在 cookie 的帮助下，当同一用户在同一设备上再次访问时，网站减少了登录过程的初始步骤。
但有些 cookie 被开发用于跟踪用户的信息，例如他们的浏览历史、他们访问的页面数量和其他数据。某些 cookie 还可以保存敏感用户的信息。存储什么类型的数据 cookie 取决于设计它们的人。
阅读(Read)： 什么是 SuperCookies？(What are SuperCookies?)
广告软件是新的吗？
广告软件(Adware)并不新鲜。它自 1995 年以来一直存在。今天的广告软件不像病毒和恶意软件那样危险，但它仍然对您的隐私构成威胁。
您如何知道广告软件(Adware)何时进入您的系统？
每当我们下载免费软件时，如果我们不小心，我们经常会得到一些 垃圾软件(crapware)、 潜在有害程序(potentially unwanted programs)、 捆绑软件(bundleware)、 有害工具栏(unwanted toolbars)、 新的搜索引擎或主页(new search engine or home page)。所有这一切通常发生在广告软件(Adware)进入我们的计算机时。如果您在系统中发现以下迹象，则可能是恶意广告软件。
- 您的浏览器主页已自动更改。
- 尽管有高速互联网连接，但您在打开网页时遇到了麻烦。
- 您到处都可以看到广告，即使它们不应该出现在任何地方。
- 您的浏览器上有一个尚未安装的新插件。
- 您的网络浏览器的窗口更频繁地崩溃。
- 网站的链接会将您带到不同的地址。
- 您的整个设备和网络浏览器变得太慢。
阅读(Read)：您如何判断您的计算机是否有病毒(How do you tell if your computer has a virus)？
广告软件跟踪 Cookie 是否(Do Adware Tracking Cookies)会使您的计算机(Computer)变慢？
广告软件(Adware)是一种计算机程序，当您在某些恶意网站上允许使用 cookie 时，它会进入您的系统。每个计算机程序都需要内存才能运行。因为广告软件也是一种计算机程序，由于广告软件跟踪 cookie 而进入您的系统，它也会消耗一些内存。许多广告软件的存在使您的系统运行缓慢。
阅读(Read)：什么是 Cookie 窃取或抓取(What is Cookie Stealing or Scraping)？
广告软件跟踪(Are Adware Tracking) Cookie(Cookies)有害吗？
广告软件(Adware)跟踪 cookie 对您的计算机构成安全威胁。如果您的计算机上有防病毒程序，您可能已经注意到这些跟踪 cookie 已被 防病毒(antivirus)标记。这是因为这些 cookie 可以存储您的个人数据并跟踪敏感信息。如果您将多台计算机连接到同一网络，则广告软件跟踪 cookie 可能会对您的所有系统构成安全威胁。
如何删除广告软件(Adware)及其跟踪 Cookie？
如果您是广告软件跟踪 cookie 的受害者，请按照以下步骤摆脱它们：
1]删除未知软件
启动系统的控制面板以检查是否安装了任何不需要的应用程序。要启动控制面板，请按“ Windows + R ”键并写入“控制面板(Control Panel)”，然后单击“确定(OK)”按钮。如果您发现任何不需要的程序，请考虑将其卸载。
阅读(Read)： 如何卸载未在控制面板中列出的程序？
2]从Web浏览器中(Web Browsers)删除未知的扩展(Remove Unknown Extensions)和插件(Addons)
启动您的网络浏览器并检查是否有任何未知的扩展、插件或插件。删除(Delete)所有不需要和未知的插件，因为它们可能是安全威胁。
3]重置您的网络浏览器
重置浏览器会将其设置为默认设置并清除所有内容。此过程将修复广告软件跟踪 cookie 所做的所有更改。
4]运行防病毒扫描
使用良好的防病毒程序或Windows Defender运行完整的系统扫描。此过程将从您的 PC 中删除所有病毒、广告软件、间谍软件、恶意软件和其他安全威胁。
您还应该使用像AdwCleaner这样的免费工具来扫描您的 PC。这个有用的免费软件让您只需单击按钮即可执行以下任务：
- 重置代理
- 删除跟踪键
- 删除预取文件
- 删除 IFEO 密钥
- 重置温索克(Reset Winsock)
- 重置 TCP/IP
- 重置防火墙(Reset Firewall)
- 重置 IPSec
- 重置位
- 重置 IE 策略
- 重置 Chrome 政策
- 重置主机文件(Reset Hosts file)。
Ultra Adware Killer是您可以考虑的另一个类似工具。
5]去隐身
当 Cookie 长时间存储在您的网络浏览器中时，它们会产生问题。如果您以私密模式上网，您的所有历史记录和 cookie 数据将在您退出时自动删除。因此，您将在隐私浏览(private browsing)中获得更安全的上网体验。或者，您可以将浏览器设置为在退出时清除所有 cookie(set your browser to clear all cookies on exit)。
我们希望本文能帮助您了解有关广告软件(Adware)和广告软件(Adware)跟踪 cookie 的更多信息。浏览愉快！
What is Adware and Adware Tracking Cookies and How to remove them?
Cookies are the small data packs that your web browser sаvеs when уou surf online. Cookies help websites trаck your behavior based on your aсtivities to improve their products and sеrvices. Apаrt from this, cookies also provide users with a smoother and more convenient internet surfing еxperience. Most of you might bе aware of different types of cookies. But there are some сookies that are associated with Adware. These cookies are called Adware tracking cookies. As the name implies, these cookies aim to track the users’ online behavior and internet history. Because these types of cookies come with adware, they can be a threat to the user’s privacy.
Some popular browsers have taken a step to protect the users’ privacy. For example, Mozilla Corporation had introduced Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox Quantum in 2020. And now, in 2021, it introduced Total Cookie Protection in Firefox Quantum. Similarly, Google Chrome has plenty of security extensions. However, as a user, you always remain worried about our data and privacy. Therefore, removing such types of cookies from your web browsers is the best practice to protect your data and privacy.
In this article, we will understand different aspects of adware tracking cookies. We will also see the different methods to protect your data and privacy from such types of cookies.
What is Adware?
Adware is a special type of computer program built for marketing purposes. Adware is not really dangerous by itself, but it is not a good thing either. It can become a host for different types of malware and thus can harm your computer. Apart from this, adware also stores a lot of users’ data like searching and browsing behavior.
When adware enters your system, you will experience a poor web browsing experience. For example, when you land on a website, your browser displays many pop-up ads instead of showing you the website directly. Adware also spreads just like a computer virus. Most often, the adware remains hidden in cookies.
Cookies are not designed to steal users’ personal data or information. Instead, they are developed to smoothen the users’ web browsing experience. For example, when you log into your account on a particular website, it saves some of your information but not your password. In this way, with the help of cookies, websites decrease the initial steps of the login process when the same user visits again on the same device.
But some cookies are developed to track the users’ information like their browsing history, the number of pages they visited, and other data. Some cookies can also save sensitive users’ information. What type of data cookies store depends on who designed them.
Read: What are SuperCookies?
Is Adware new?
Adware is not new. It has been here since 1995. Today’s adware is not as dangerous as viruses and malware, but still, it is a threat to your privacy.
How do you know when Adware has entered your system?
Whenever we download a free software, if we are not careful, we often end up with some crapware, potentially unwanted programs, bundleware, unwanted toolbars, a new search engine or home page. All this typically happens when Adware gets on to our computers. If you notice the following signs in your system, you may have malicious adware on it.
- Your browser’s home page has changed automatically.
- You are experiencing trouble in opening web pages inspite of having a high-speed internet connection.
- You see ads everywhere, even where they should not be.
- You have a new addon on your browser, which you have not installed.
- Your web browser’s windows crash more often.
- The links of websites take you to different addresses.
- Your entire device and the web browser become too slow.
Read: How do you tell if your computer has a virus?
Do Adware Tracking Cookies make your Computer slow?
Adware is a computer program that can enter your system when you allow cookies on some malicious websites. Every computer program needs memory to run. Because adware is also a computer program that enters into your system due to adware tracking cookies, it also consumes some memory. The presence of many adware makes your system run slow.
Read: What is Cookie Stealing or Scraping?
Are Adware Tracking Cookies harmful?
Adware tracking cookies are a security threat to your computer. If you have an antivirus program on your computer, you might have noticed that these tracking cookies are flagged by antivirus. This is because these cookies can store your personal data and track sensitive information. If you have more than one computer connected to the same network, adware tracking cookies can be a security threat to all your systems.
How to remove Adware & its Tracking Cookies?
If you are a victim of adware tracking cookies, follow these steps to get rid of them:
1] Remove Unknown Software
Launch the control panel of your system to check whether there is any unwanted app installed on it or not. To launch the control panel, press the “Windows + R” keys and write “Control Panel,” and click on the “OK” button. If you find any unwanted program, consider uninstalling it.
Read: How to Uninstall Programs not listed in Control Panel?
2] Remove Unknown Extensions and Addons from Web Browsers
Launch your web browser and check whether there is any unknown extension, plugin, or addon or not. Delete all unwanted and unknown addons because they may be a security threat.
3] Reset your Web Browser
Resetting the browser sets it to the default settings and cleans everything. This process will fix all the changes made by the adware tracking cookies.
4] Run an Antivirus Scan
Run a full system scan with a good antivirus program or Windows Defender. This process will delete all the viruses, adware, spyware, malware, and other security threats from your PC.
You should also use a free tool like AdwCleaner to scan your PC. This useful freeware lets you carry out the following tasks with the click of your button:
Ultra Adware Killer is another similar tool you may consider.
5] Go Incognito
Cookies create a problem when they remain stored in your web browser for a long time. If you surf the internet in private mode, all your history and cookie data will be deleted automatically when you exit. Therefore, you will have a safer internet surfing experience in private browsing. Or alternatively, you could set your browser to clear all cookies on exit.
We hope this article helped you learn a lot about Adware and Adware tracking cookies. Happy browsing!
