Which of the following best describes the risk associated with adware?

Adware is primarily known for its ability to monitor and track user behavior to deliver targeted advertisements. This often involves collecting data on a user's online activity, preferences, and habits without their explicit consent. The key risk associated with adware lies in this compromise of user privacy, as it may lead to the collection of personal information which can then be misused or sold to third parties.

While adware can certainly lead to an increase in internet bandwidth usage due to the frequent downloading of advertisements or updates, the most significant concern remains its impact on user privacy. Unlike the risks of system crashes or unauthorized installations, which can be more closely associated with malware or other types of invasive software, the privacy implications of adware are particularly pertinent in today's digital environment where data protection regulations are increasingly emphasized.