In an apparent attempt to shed its image as an aggressive adware pusher, 180solutions is alerting PC users whose computers run its ad-serving software and is offering tips on removing it.
The company on Monday started displaying messages on PCs to inform people that the software is installed on their system, 180solutions spokesman Sean Sundwall said. The message explains that the software displays pop-up ads and offers a link to uninstall the software, he said.
As is common with adware, many people may have unwittingly installed 180solutions" product. It may even have installed itself in a so-called drive-by install, where Web browser vulnerabilities are used to drop and install software on PCs when people visit malicious Web sites. 180solutions software is installed on about 20 million PCs, the company said.