Understanding Adware and
knowing how to eliminate it

It is time to add adware to the growing list of computer problems. Along with computer viruses, Trojan horses, key logger programs and spyware, adware has been growing in popularity with shady characters, and it has begun to invade more and more computers.

What is adware?

The term adware actually covers a wide variety of software. Some adware is merely annoying, generating those pop-up ads that everyone seems to hate so much. Other forms of adware exist to track our movements on the Internet. The idea behind this is that by knowing our surfing habits and interests, companies will be better able to target ads to the consumers who are most interested in their products and services. While this may have some merit, most computer users feel that this type of adware is at best an invasion of privacy.

There are also types of adware that are more malicious in nature. Not content to simply record where we go, some types of adware also track keystrokes and report them to the owner of the adware program. This valuable key logging information can be used to capture account numbers, steal passwords and gain access to a wide variety of information. It is important that this type of adware be dealt with and eliminated at once.

How do I tell if my computer has adware?

If your computer has been online for any amount of time without running some sort of adware detection program, chances are it is loaded with adware. As these programs have become more commonplace, they have proliferated steadily, and it is often possible to become infected with adware simply by navigating to the wrong Internet site. If you think you may have a problem with adware or other malicious software, it is important to obtain a program to detect and eliminate it.

There are a number of excellent products on the market designed to detect and eliminate adware, spyware and other types of malicious software. Some of these programs are free, while others charge for the software. The best approach may be to download several different products, try them out and see which are the most effective. Even anti adware programs that charge a fee generally have trial versions which are available at no charge. These trial software products will allow you to gauge the effectiveness of the various programs before you buy.

How do I run an adware detection tool?

Most adware detection tools provide a very user-friendly screen from which to work. The user simply selects the drive or drives to scan, and the software goes to work finding suspected adware. The user then will have the option of removing the software or letting it in place. On occasion, an adware detection and removal tool will flag a legitimate program as adware, so it is important for the user to review each of the items found before removing them. Fortunately, most adware removal tools include an undo feature that will come in handy if you remove a program you should not have.

After you have cleaned your machine of adware, it is important to keep it clean by scanning it often. Running an anti virus scan and an adware scan on a regular basis is the best way to keep your computer, and the valuable information it contains, as safe and secure as possible.