Connection Between Adware and Viruses

For anyone who has fallen victim to the spyware variation of adware, there’s probably a good chance that a computer virus was quick to follow. If you have experienced such a scenario, you can empathize with the frustrations and annoyance of having a computer that ceased to run fast, or perform its tasks at an optimal level. Depending on the severity of the attack from the malware beast, your computer may have even been rendered useless and in need of reinstallation of an operating system.

While an adware virus is different from a full blown computer virus, they do have many similarities. Understanding the nature of what adware does to your computer and how it infects it, will help to prevent such from happening.

The Connection Between Adware and Viruses

Adware, spyware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses: They’re all forms of malware. Malware is malicious software most often designed for financial gain through illegal, fraudulent activity. In terms of adware and viruses, as well as adware viruses, it should be known that not all adware is harmful to your computer. Technically speaking, adware is any form of a software generated advertising package that downloads or displays at a specific time during site use.

The problem with adware is when it is used to pull you into an ad possessing spyware, or clicking to a site that will infect your computer with a virus. This is the adware you want to avoid at all costs. Once you’ve clicked on adware with spyware or linking you to a virus or a phishing site, your computer will more than likely become infected—that is, unless you have installed the proper protection.

Similarly, adware viruses and computer viruses can infect your operating system, slow its performance and even prevent your computer from connecting to the Internet. To say the least, they are frustrations, and when they have taken their toll, they can cause serious damage to your operating system.

Preventing Adware and Viruses – What to Do When Your Computer is Infected

For starters, prevention is always better than looking for—and paying for—a cure. With a little preventive maintenance and “medicine,” you can keep your computer malware-free. A good anti-virus program boasting a spyware/adware blocker and killer will get the job done. Just be sure to download system updates regularly and run a scan a few times per week or once daily before you shut down your computer.

Anti-virus software with adware/spyware blockers and killers are able to protect you from infection, warn you before you venture to a site that is known to infect, or could possibly possess one of the harmful forms of malware. And if you do have a spyware or computer viral infection, it can seek it and destroy it. In terms of educating yourself on avoiding adware viruses, just be mindful of the sites you visit. Don’t click on links in emails from unknown individuals, and if something seems fishy (or, “phishy”) or like it might be a scam, regardless of how nice the advertisement sounds, ignore it!