Microsoft has announced stricter rules for adware, the company will now also consider software with advertisements adware when they are using a fake close button. In April the company introduced rules that software developers should follow to avoid being detected by Microsoft security products as adware.
The goal of the rules is to provide Windows users a better internet and software experience. According to Microsoft the new rules have been a great success and the company claims many developer have adapted the rules. However some developers have found ways to bend and even circumvent the rules.
In April the rules stated that advertisements needed to "include an obvious way to close the ad". With that Microsoft meant to say that advertisements should use e.g an "X" or the word "Close". Although many advertisements adhered to the rule, the close button is also abused. Some advertisements contain a way of closing an advertisement according to the rules, but trigger another advertisement when clicked.
Obviously that wasn't the intention of the rule and Microsoft today announces it will also detect that behavior as adware. Also applications that contain links that aren't clearly visible as links will be considered adware from now and the same goes for "mouse-over links". This method uses mouse-overs to fake a click on an advertisement.
If you're interested what Microsoft's anti malware software criteria are for considering something as unwanted software or adware, then read on here.
