Adware and spyware, programs installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent, can significantly disrupt the way your computer functions. This article explains the impact of adware and spyware on your computer and discusses how you can remove these annoying, potentially dangerous, programs.

Adware and Spyware Removal #1: Be Aware of the Problem

Before you can protect yourself against adware and spyware, it's important to know what each program does. Adware delivers advertising to your computer in the form of annoying pop-ups, banner ads, toolbars, etc. Adware may also “hijack” your browser so that it opens to a new homepage, often having to do with pornography or commercial interests. Spyware is any program that records your keystrokes or online habits and sends that information back to a third party, who then uses it to steal your identity or to send a flurry of customized ads in your direction.

Spyware and Adware Removal #2: Know the Symptoms

Symptoms that your computer could be infected with adware or spyware include sluggishness (e.g., slower to start and run programs), slow browser, “hijacked” home page, pop-ups that include your name or other identifying information and occur even when you’re not web surfing, and items that appear or disappear from your favorite websites, etc.

Adware and Spyware Removal #3: Select a Good Scanning Program

If you think your computer is infected with adware or spyware, check it out. Download or buy a reputable program that will scan your computer for these annoying programs. Examples of programs you might want to try include Spyware Terminator or Ad-Aware SE Personal from Lavasoft. Beware of spam email that offers you links to an adware or spyware removal program. Chances are excellent that if you click the link, you’ll just be downloading more adware or spyware. Spyware Terminator has an excellent section on their webpage where they list free downloads and what programs, if any, those downloads are “bundled” with.

Adware and Spyware Removal #4: Delete

After running the scan, the adware/spyware removal program that you have selected will report the results to you. At that point, you will have the option of either deleting problem programs or quarantining them–moving them to a place on your computer where they can no longer spy on you or influence ad content.

The first time you run the scan, you may be shocked to find yourself with several hundred malware (i.e., malicious software) programs on your computer. Once you have removed the initial programs, set up a schedule to scan your computer at least once a week (some companies recommend as often as once a day). 

Adware and Spyware Removal #5 : Be Careful What You Download in the Future

Adware and spyware programs typically get onto your computer in several ways. They may be the result of "drive by" downloads which attack unprotected computers connected to the internet. If your computer is always connected to the internet, install a personal firewall. Adware and spyware programs may also get onto your computer by being bundled with another program you have downloaded. Vulnerable programs include games, shared files, music and movie videos, screensavers, etc.

Take time to look at the user’s agreement before you “sign” it. Some user's agreements say explicitly that they intend to share your personal information, which means the program you are planning to download is almost certainly bundled with adware, spyware, or both. Adware and spyware can be a pain, but with a little time and internet savvy, you can remove these annoying, unwanted programs from your computer for good.

Protecting your computer from adware and spyware is crucial to being safe while online! It is sad, but now computer users have to be aware of more than just spam and viruses. We now have to concern ourselves with the new world of adware and spyware. What are adware and spyware, and how can you protect your computer from them? While adware and spyware are often grouped together, they are in fact different. Adware is the software that decides which ads to show on your computer while you are surfing the Internet. It can also be responsible for ads popping up on your computer when you are not even using the Internet. Spyware is software designed to mine your personal information from the computer while you are using it. This information is then sent to a third party, and you have no idea this is going on. Most often this is simply information about where you are going on the Internet, but often it targets your personal identity information. Whether you are batting spyware, adware, or both, there are several things you can do to protect yourself. You are on the right track now because you are getting educated about adware and spyware.

How to Tell If Your Computer Is Affected

The first step to protecting yourself from adware and spyware is determining if your computer is affected by the malicious programs. Usually, the first clue that you have a problem is a sudden and unexpected issue with the performance on your computer. If your Internet browser suddenly works slowly, or not at all, you might have a problem. Also, adware and spyware can make your entire computer run slowly. If you notice these problems, it is time to check your computer thoroughly.

Protections from Adware and Spyware

Protecting your computer from adware and spyware should be one of your first priorities. It may not be possible to completely avoid these programs installing themselves on your computer, but there are steps you can take to keep it from happening. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid installing software you are not familiar with. When you get those pop up boxes asking you if you trust the source of the software you are about to download, think twice before clicking yes! The most common way for spyware and adware to get on your computer is by piggybacking on a program you intended to install. Free programs are one of the best culprits of this problem.

Do not click on those pop ups that say your computer is at risk! These are also prime places for spyware to install on your computer. The minute you press “yes” to doing a security scan, you are opening your computer up for unwanted, and often dangerous, software. Make sure you have anti spyware programming installed on your computer, and that you use it on a frequent basis. Even if you are not noticing a problem, check. You might choose one day a week to do a scan for spyware and adware. This is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself.

In real life, a spy is someone who surreptitiously keeps watch, learns the secrets of his or her enemies, and reports them back to his or her employer. A cyber spy functions much the same way as a live spy. Computer spyware installs itself on your computer without your knowledge or consent and records your every move. Computer spyware is sometimes used for marketing purposes. Based on sites you have visited in the past, you may find your browser redirected to similar sites, or you may find yourself barraged by pop-up ads. You may even find that your home page has been changed to a commercial site. Pornography sites are especially infamous for changing homepage settings, which can lead to considerable embarrassment at home or in the workplace. Even worse, computer spyware can be used to record your keystrokes, which can lead to identity theft, especially if you complete online forms requesting your name, date of birth, social security number, credit card information, etc.

How Does Spyware Get on My Computer?

Computer spyware is usually bundled with some sort of download–games, screen savers, shared files, pornographic pictures, etc. For this reason, it is important to download only from trusted sites with solid reputations. If your computer is always connected to the internet, you may be the victim of a “drive by” download, or a download that is sent automatically to your computer without any action taken on your part. You can foil drive by downloads by installing a firewall and keeping the security level high enough to prevent downloads from taking place without your permission. Your firewall should also alert you if another computer is attempting to send information to your computer. 

Finally, if you click on a link within a pop-up ad, you might inadvertently install computer spyware. No matter how interesting or tempting the ad may look, close it out immediately by clicking on the "X" box, usually located in the upper right corner.

How Can I Get Rid of Computer Spyware?

First of all, delete spam emails that offer to get rid of computer spyware for you. If you click on the links provided in the spam, you will actually be downloading spyware instead of getting rid of it. Instead, download a reputable spyware detection program such as Ad-Aware from Lavasoft. Run it regularly, at least once a week, and immediately delete any spyware it detects. This brief task will ensure that your private life remains private–even in cyber space.