What Is Bundleware?

Date First Published: 2nd April 2024

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Software

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 5/10

CONTENTS

Types Of Bundleware
How Does Bundleware Work?
History

Learn about what bundleware is in this article.

Bundleware is a type of software that installs other programs in addition to a specific software program. It got its name from people bundling together different programs into one installation package. Bundled software can be legitimate software that complements the main software, unwanted software that causes inconvenience to users (PUPs), or malware that harms computers.

Types Of Bundleware

Different types of bundleware include:

Benign bundleware - Includes additional software that is harmless and might even be useful to some users. The user is usually given a clear choice to opt out.
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) - Includes software that is not strictly malicious but may be unwanted for the user and cause inconvenience. Examples are toolbars and adware. The opt-out choice may be hidden or worded in a way that makes it likely for the user to miss them.
Malicious bundleware - Includes malware, such as spyware. The installation often happens without any user consent.

How Does Bundleware Work?

When installing free software, it might include bundleware for monetisation purposes and users might see that they are agreeing to install additional software. In most cases, it is unrelated software that the user never asked for and is not required for the main software to run. Since it is quite common for users to click Next or Okay without reading the agreement or checking that nothing else is ticked, bundling unwanted programs in a specific software program has increased. Sometimes, there may be no option to opt out of the extra programs.

Due to bundleware, users may notice programs that they didn't intend to install on their computers, such as a browser toolbar or adware. It can become difficult to figure out how the unwanted programs got installed, but removing them is often easy. Once users know the name of the unwanted program and whether or not the added programs are required for the main program to function, they can decide whether to keep or remove them.

History

Bundleware dates back to the early 2000s when internet speeds started to increase, leading to an increase in software being distributed online. Developers started to bundle extra software with their main offerings to generate additional revenue, either through advertising or through the sale of additional software licenses.