Barbarians at the Digital Gate

NY Times: Barbarians at the Digital Gate

The rapid proliferation of [spyware and adware] has brought Internet use to a stark crossroads, as many consumers now see the Web as a battlefield strewn with land mines.

At the same time, major advertisers and big Internet sites are increasingly tempted by adware's singular ability to display pop-up ads exactly when a user has shown interest in a particular service or product.

Also: Adware archive