Stealwares are software that acts exactly like a spyware but it has a unique niche,it  is a software that can cause a threat to the reliability of an affiliate programs, because it  has the tendencies to modify an affiliate tracking codes, by changing the cookies and the payment will goes to another person.
Some of  the basic properties of a stealware are listed below:

• They are installed in the tool bars or P2P applications and other freeware like adware and spyware.
  
• It is included in the setup process of the P2P applications.
  
• It functions best where affiliate payments are concerned.
  
• It changes affiliate tracking codes by modifying the payment patterns.
  

Stealware applications are sometimes mentioned in the end user agreement but some users do not read all the contents of the agreement due to its lengthy nature and they accept the terms ignorantly.
Once it enters the system, it can be very difficult to remove because the ability to remove it depends solely on the affiliate marketer and the person involved.
 Even after the programme has been removed, it does not go away from the system.
Because of the endemic nature of stealware, it is very necessary to create awareness by alerting affiliates markers about the existence of malicious software and this can be achieved by pointing them to any articles about the existence of spyware or a stealware.
 It is even safe to avoid affiliates that make stealwares as part of there operations.
Affiliate marketers should also be aware that, joining an affiliate program involves a lot of money and a risk, therefore the profit motives behind the affiliation should be guarded jealously, by doing a thorough research on the products source to make sure that it does not have any link with a stealware.