Adware Basics

Adware is software that presents advertising messages on your computer. They are often downloaded and installed along with other programs without your explicit knowledge. While some of the adware comes from legitimate companies that use the software to pay for their services, others are malicious forms of spyware that can gather information about your activities for nefarious purposes such as identify theft and fraud. Luckily, there are plenty of adware removers that will help you keep your computer clean and your information private.

Where Does Adware Come From?

Adware comes from many different sources. For instance, advertising software is commonly packaged with programs such as DivX, AOL Instant Messenger, Kazaa, and Yahoo! Messenger. Chances are that you have downloaded some of this software or others like them. That means you could have adware installed on your computer right now.

Sometimes users have the option to decline adware when they download popular programs like Daemon Tools and Vuse. More often than not, though, this option is buried within lots of legalese and options that few internet users actually read.

What’s the Difference between Adware and Spyware?

From your computer’s perspective, there might not be a difference between adware and spyware. Both of them gather information about your activities and both of them can slow your computer to a crawl. The biggest difference is that spyware is often used to gather private data that can help criminals commit identity theft and fraud while adware typically just annoys you with pop-ups. Certain types of adware programs, however, are designed to install spyware, so the difference quickly disappears in some cases.

How Do I Find Adware Removers?

There are plenty of adware removers available online, but not all of them are as good as others. When downloading adware removers, you should always be sure that you choose software from a reliable source. Otherwise, you can actually download what you think is a remover but is actually a program that installs spyware. Telling the difference between a legitimate and fraudulent source is difficult for many internet users, so it is best to rely on the advice and experiences of experts.

Where Can I Find Reliable Adware Removers?

C-Net and similar web sites post reviews that will help you choose reliable adware removal programs.

Look for an adware remover that is updated frequently, which means it can catch the latest adware programs before they cause problems. Ideally you would run this software on a daily basis to make sure your computer is free of all adware. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time online, which increases the likeliness that you will download spyware unintentionally.

You may also wish to run a separate spyware scanner, or buy an all-in-one program. If you use separate program, then you should run both of these programs regularly. Sometimes you will find that one catches adware that the other misses. Running both every couple of days will help ensure that your private information is protected and that your computer performs well.