Weather Channel App

The Weather Channel application (Desktop Weather application) is a legitimate application released by Weather.com. The desktop client is available for download on the official website, while a mobile version can be installed from the Google Play store. Many users can then start to wonder why are their anti-malware programs warning them that the Weather Channel application is both a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) and adware.

The reason the Weather Channel application is being flagged as a PUP is due to the shady techniques it employs to obtain user data. The application itself may ask for private details such as the user's age and gender. Furthermore, it also could attempt to access information such as the device's IP address, geolocation, browser identification, etc. Although the Weather Channel client can be downloaded for free, users should consider that it is still an ad-support application. As a result, it could display intrusive or annoying advertisements.

It is up to the individual user to decide what information or permissions they want to provide to the various applications. A good rule to follow, however, is to read the permissions required by applications carefully and pay attention to whether they are connected with the main functionality or the application is simply overreaching in an attempt to receive as broad access as possible.