A piece of software that contains advertisement; the advertisement is displayed each time the user runs the software. Some adware contains a banner ad, usually rotating. Other types pop up Web pages when you use them. Some adware turns off the ads if you pay a small amount of money (this is like shareware in concept).

Direct Connect is adware. Not to be confused with spyware and other forms of malware that subvert your Web browser and play with your Internet settings.

adware n.

Software which is free to download and use but includes pop-up banner ads somewhere. See also -ware.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, this entry manually entered by rootbeer277.