Selected news stories about the Pew Internet Project and articles citing our data.
Web users wising up on adware, spyware
7/15/2005 | 
Coverage
Mercury News Editorial, San Jose Mercury News
'"The Internet has long moved beyond its age of innocence. Viruses and worms, spam and scams such as phishing have turned Internet users into a wary bunch.
There are indications that Internet users are finally growing wiser. The advent of spyware and adware, among the latest scourges to plague the Net, may have tipped the scales. Spyware refers to small programs that infect computers and can track users' surfing habits, steal passwords and change computer settings. Adware usually comes packaged with free downloads and bombards users with pop-up ads.
A new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project suggests that an increasing number of people are surfing more safely.
This wising up has come only after malicious programs took a heavy toll. The Pew report found that an alarming number (68 percent) of Internet users suffered serious computer problems -- slowing PCs, unwanted popup ads, files that disappear, home pages that change -- that are often associated with spyware or adware."
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