> When most people think "ad", they think that third parties are collecting data about the computer or user attached to it, and then those third parties respond

> When most people think "ad", they think that third parties are collecting data about the computer or user attached to it, and then those third parties respond with a bid and an ad No, that's called "targeted ad". Or spyware which happens to also deliver ads, depending on your tolerance for privacy violations. > but hardly nefarious Harmless ads are annoying and distracting too.