Tens of thousands of smartphone applications are running ads from the overwhelming(势不可挡的) advertising networks that change smartphone settings and copy people’s contact information without permission.
Aggressive ad networks can disguise（假扮） ads as text message notifications (通告), and sometimes change browser settings and bookmarks. Often, the ads will upload your contacts list to the ad network’s servers--- information that the ad network can then sell to marketers.
Sounds scary? It’s not a giant problem yet, but it’s a growing one. As many as 5% of free mobile apps use an “aggressive” ad network to make money, according to Lookout, a San Francisco-based mobile security company. PhoneLiving was one of the most popular app developers to use these kinds of ad networks; their dozens of talking animal apps have been downloaded several million times. Later, PhoneLiving says it has mended its ways. The company admittedusing invasive techniques to make money from its apps, but said it dropped those methods at the start of July because of bad reviews and declining downloads.
The most popular type of apps that use aggressive ad networks are “Personalisation” apps, which include wallpapers. Comic and entertainment apps are also among the most likely to have rogue(凶猛的) ad networks running behind the scenes. Like aggressive pop-ups on PCs, the bad software isn’t easy to get rid of. Though the damage can typically be removed by deleting the app, it can be hard to tell which app is causing the problems.
When developers create free mobile apps, they usually make money through ads displayed within the app. App makers don’t usually tell people which ad network they are using, which makes it hard to avoid the known offenders. The best defense is to read reviews and avoid downloading apps that have attracted many complaints.
小题1:What is an example of bad behavior by the annoying mobile ads?
A．They change browser settings and bookmarks.
B．They change people’s calendar settings.
C．They send scam text messages occasionally.
D．They download free versions of games.小题2:What do we know about PhoneLiving?
A．Its operation model is against the will of netizens.
B．It was forced to admit its bad behavior.
C．It has changed its business model rapidly.
D．Its relationship with Lookout may break up.小题3:Why is the bad software hard to get rid of?
A．The software runs behind the scenes.
B．The app is very hard to delete.
C．It is difficult to find the problem app.
D．The network antivirus is out of date.小题4:What does the underlined word, “ invasive”, mean in the third paragraph?
A．innovative
B．positive
C．flexible
D．aggressive小题5:What is the main idea of the passage?
A．Mobile ads can attack your phone and steal your contacts.
B．Mobile ads have become popular in recent years.
C．Smartphones have been damaged by mobile ads.
D．You may download some aggressive apps unconsciously.
