If your computer is having performance issues for no apparent reason, you may be the unwitting victim of spyware or adware. Both spyware and adware are malicious forms of software that basically sneak uninvited onto your computer on the coattails of other programs you choose to install.
Spyware is a software program that secretly monitors your computer interaction habit and then collects important information about you to be given to other parties with the objective of generating income without your approval. On the other hand, adware programs are online advertisement that automatically pops up when you visit a site. It blocks your interaction by insisting a promotion without your consent.
Adware and spyware are much different from worms and viruses, in that they influence the performance of your personal computer, by making it run slower and even preventing the programs you do use from working correctly. Adware and spyware can find their way into you computer in two ways.
1. It is downloaded and installed in your computer as your chosen freeware.
2. Covertly, or disguised as something else.
Although, this is no longer the case, all you needed for computer protection was virus protection. However, today, if adware and spyware get into your computer, you will find its solution by installing a good software program that will detect and remove these problems for you.
There are many free downloads online that will take care of spyware and adware problems. Here is a list of the most popular:
- Ad-Aware just released its newest 2008 version, and is very popular software for eliminating adware and spyware from computers, while offering a free version that aids you in performing manual scans for finding and removing these harmful types of software programs.
- Spybot Search & Destroy doesn’t just find and stop the spyware and adware files on your computer. This software also includes a file shredder to see that the damaging programs are totally removed from your system and destroyed.
- Spyware Blaster is an anti-spyware program for Microsoft Windows which is developed to block the spyware from being installed to the computer by blacklisting the malicious program. It is different from other existing spyware and adware removal program because of its capability to scan the memory of the computer and then remove the unwanted software that has been previously installed in the computer.
- Windows Defender is the free spyware and adware protection software offered by Microsoft. It does a good job for a free program, but you have to verify that you are running a licensed version of Windows before you can complete the download.
Installing more than one kind of protection program is an advantage for your computer not only because of its functions and capabilities, but also because it is free.
Viewed 46 times by 16 viewers
