Adware

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which best describes adware?

A Software that encrypts your files and demands payment to unlock them

B Software that shows unwanted adverts to earn money for its creator

2. A student installs a free game and pop-up adverts start appearing all the time. What is the most likely cause?

A A denial of service attack on the game

B Adware installed alongside the free game

3. A browser keeps sending a student's searches to a site full of adverts they never chose. Which is the likely threat?

A Adware redirecting browser searches

B A firewall blocking the search

4. Why do adware creators make adware?

A To earn money from the adverts shown

B To delete the files on the device

5. How can adware affect a device?

A It can slow the device down

B It makes the device run faster

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1adware		AA typical way adware arrives: bundled with a free program the user chose to install
2free_game_installer.exe		Bdevice_speed = slow
3Adware slows the device because it keeps running adverts and background tasks		CThis describes ransomware, not adware. Adware shows unwanted adverts to earn money for its creator.
4Adware can redirect browser searches to sites full of adverts		Dsearch("news") -> ad_site.com
5adware = software that steals files and demands a ransom		ESoftware that shows unwanted adverts, such as pop-ups, to earn money for its creator
6adware_tracks_users = false // adware never tracks anyone		FSome adware also tracks users, such as the sites they visit, so adverts can be targeted at them.

Definitions

adware

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

IF popups > 0 THEN ______ "Adware suspected" ENDIF

IF searchSite __ chosenSite THEN OUTPUT "Searches redirected" ENDIF

IF cpuUsage > 90 ___ popups > 0 THEN OUTPUT "Adware slows device" ENDIF

IF adTracks = ____ THEN OUTPUT "Privacy is at risk" ENDIF

IF bundledAdware = TRUE THEN OUTPUT "Untick extra software" _____

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A adware ← "unwanted adverts"

B maker ← "earns money"

C source ← "antivirus updates"

Question 2

A popups ← 8

B IF popups > 5 THEN

C OUTPUT "Device is safe"

D ENDIF

Question 3

A WHILE adware = TRUE

B SHOW popup

C speed ← speed - 10

D NEXT i

Question 4

A INPUT search

B IF adware = FALSE THEN

C search ← "ad-site.com"

D ENDIF

Question 5

A adware ← TRUE

B tracked ← "nothing at all"

C OUTPUT tracked

Answer Key

Adware

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Software that shows unwanted adverts to earn money for its creator

B — Adware installed alongside the free game

A — Adware redirecting browser searches

A — To earn money from the adverts shown

A — It can slow the device down

Section B: Match the Pairs

adware → Software that shows unwanted adverts, such as pop-ups, to earn money for its creator

free_game_installer.exe → A typical way adware arrives: bundled with a free program the user chose to install

Adware slows the device because it keeps running adverts and background tasks → device_speed = slow

Adware can redirect browser searches to sites full of adverts → search("news") -> ad_site.com

adware = software that steals files and demands a ransom → This describes ransomware, not adware. Adware shows unwanted adverts to earn money for its creator.

adware_tracks_users = false // adware never tracks anyone → Some adware also tracks users, such as the sites they visit, so adverts can be targeted at them.

Section C: Definitions

adware — Software that shows unwanted adverts, such as pop-ups, often installed with free programs, to earn money for its creator. It can slow a device, redirect searches and track users.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

IF popups > 0 THEN
  OUTPUT "Adware suspected"
ENDIF

IF searchSite <> chosenSite THEN
  OUTPUT "Searches redirected"
ENDIF

IF cpuUsage > 90 AND popups > 0 THEN
  OUTPUT "Adware slows device"
ENDIF

IF adTracks = TRUE THEN
  OUTPUT "Privacy is at risk"
ENDIF

IF bundledAdware = TRUE THEN
  OUTPUT "Untick extra software"
ENDIF

Section E: Spot the Error

C — Adware is usually installed alongside free programs, not antivirus updates. The line should be source ← "free programs".

C — Lots of pop-up adverts are a sign of adware, so the program should warn the user with OUTPUT "Possible adware", not say the device is safe.

D — A WHILE loop must end with ENDWHILE. NEXT i belongs to a FOR loop. The line should be ENDWHILE.

B — Adware redirects searches only when it is present on the device. The condition should be IF adware = TRUE THEN.

B — Some adware also tracks users, for example the sites they visit, to target adverts. It does not track nothing. The line should be tracked ← "sites you visit".