Auditing software programs

A potentially unwanted program (PUP) or potentially unwanted application (PUA) is software that a user may perceive as unwanted or unnecessary.It is used as a subjective tagging criterion by security and parental control products.Such software may use an implementation that can compromise privacy or weaken the computer's security.Companies often bundle a wanted program download with a wrapper application and may offer to install an unwanted application

And in some cases without providing a clear opt-out method.Antivirus companies define the software bundled as potentially unwanted programs which can include

Software that displays intrusive advertising (adware)

Or tracks the user's Internet usage to sell information to advertisers (spyware)

Injects its own advertising into web pages that a user looks at

Or uses premium SMS services to rack up charges for the user.A growing number of open-source software projects have expressed dismay at third-party websites wrapping their downloads with unwanted bundles

Without the project's knowledge or consent.Nearly every third-party free download site bundles their downloads with potentially unwanted software.The practice is widely considered unethical because it violates the security interests of users without their informed consent.Some unwanted software bundles install a root certificate on a user's device

Which allows hackers to intercept private data such as :

Without a browser giving security warnings.The United States Department of Homeland Security has advised removing an insecure root certificate

Because they make computers vulnerable to serious cyberattacks.Software developers and security experts recommend that people always download the latest version from the official project website

Or a trusted package manager or app store.

Software blacklisting is a tool used by manufacturers of software and music on CD and DVD to prevent copying.

A software development process is a process of planning and managing software development.It typically involves dividing software development work into smaller

Or sequential steps or sub-processes to improve design and/or product management.It is also known as a software development life cycle (SDLC).The methodology may include

The pre-definition of specific deliverables and artifacts that are created and completed by a project team to develop or maintain an application.

static program analysis is the analysis of computer programs performed without executing them

In contrast with dynamic program analysis

Which is performed on programs during their execution.