Note that many websites have their own advertising, unrelated to adware.
Adware is any software application in which advertising is displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen and sometimes through text links or in integrated search results. Adware may or may not track personal information. It may also gather information anonymously or in aggregate only. Users should check the EULA and Privacy policy to ensure if the adware on their machines conforms to their standards.
Official
Description:
FreeScratchAndWin is an IE spyware Browser Helper Object dressed up as a web 'scratchcards' game. (What exactly is available to be won, and whether anybody has ever won it, remains unclear.)
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It also highjacks your home- and search-page settings to point to xzoomy.com, and complains if you try to change them back.
Comment:
Opens pop-up adverts every few minutes.
The software's terms of use advises that the software can track users' web usage.
Downloads and installs arbitrary unsigned code as part of an update feature.
Addendum: FSW should not be confused with http://www.FSW.com which is a legitimate e-commerce development company.
Open the registry (Start, Run, regedit) and delete the following keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\FSW
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20A03A4C-9FAF-45D5-A5C2-B6C49774E03C}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{99B0B113-6F25-49C9-8ECF-2FDDD3EDFF6A}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FSW_beta1.Application
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FSW.Application
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Fswinst.Application
Reboot Windows and delete the 'FSW' folder inside 'Program Files'. Finally, go to Internet Options and reset your home page and search settings (Options->Programs->Reset Web Settings).
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