Adware and Spyware Removers – A Beginner's Primer
There are a lot of software tools out there that function as adware and spyware removers. While these cleaners often do a good job and provide a sense of security, some of them can be downright ineffective or downright malicious.
This article will give you an overview of the various types of adware and spyware removers so that you can make an informed decision when selecting what kind you want to use. We'll go over how each type works, what it does, when it would be appropriate to use it, and provide pros and cons for the different options.
Before we get started, please note that this article is written from the perspective of a computer user who wants to use a remove tool to combat adware and spyware. The author is not a technical expert and does not claim to know everything about the field of anti-malware software , but he does know enough about adware, spyware, and anti-malware software to make an informed decision.
Adware/Spyware Removers – A Beginner's Primer
What are AdWare and SpyWare?
AdWare is a general term for unwanted programs that have been designed specifically to collect information about your browsing behavior, typically without your knowledge or consent. AdWare is generally classified into two types: AdWare and SpyWare. AdWare refers to programs that are considered "low-level," meaning they collect data at the most fundamental level, such as what pages you visit or how often you visit them. SpyWare refers to programs that are more like back door Trojans that can be used by someone else to gain access to your computer.
Adware (or low-level adware) is used by hackers and other cybercriminals who hack computers and gain access to their online banking accounts, passwords, etc.. Hackers often use adware while stealing information from a victim's computer in order to get access to an account.
Spyware (or higher level adware) is used by more nefarious groups. Hackers and cybercriminals who use SpyWare can steal information from your computer and then use that information for monetary gain, for example, by selling access to your files or email inbox on the dark web.
Spyware is also known as "malicious software," although malicious software is a category of software that hackers use to harm others.
How Does AdWare Work?
AdWare and SpyWare work like this: A hacker has control of a computer (or he has already hacked someone else's computer) and he loads an AdWare onto it. AdWare can be loaded onto a computer in different ways. For example, the hacker can place a program on some websites that, when visited, can automatically download and install the AdWare. Or the hacker may use social engineering methods to trick the victim into allowing him to install the AdWare on their computer because it's "a critical security patch." In any event, once the AdWare is installed, it begins it's work of gathering information about the user's browsing behavior.
AdWare usually collects information about the websites a user visits, how often they visit them, how long they visit them for, and what kind of information was entered onto the websites. For example, if a user did a search for a new car on Google and then visited auto-dealer websites later that day, the AdWare would record that.
The AdWare can also be true spyware (i.e. back door Trojan) because it opens up ports on your computer and begins sending data back to the hackers or cybercriminals who installed it. The hacker can then use this port to gain access to your computer through an IRC chat channel or other method of remote access.
What Are Adware Removal Tools?
Since adware can be a bit tricky to remove, there are tools available that have been specifically designed to find and remove adware from your computer. Some of these tools are quite sophisticated, while others can be quite rudimentary. Regardless of how effective each is at finding and removing the offending AdWare, installing one of these programs on your computer will NOT hurt your computer in any way, so they are all safe to install and use.
Pros and Cons of Using an Adware & Spyware Remover Tool
Adware removal tools vary in effectiveness. Some of them are extremely effective at removing adware and uninstalling it from your computer (an uninstaller is necessary for this, because a lot of AdWare and SpyWare can resist being manually uninstalled by using certain methods). Others are not very effective, but they're still better than nothing.
Many Adware removal tools contain "registry cleaner" functions. While some people will claim that it's necessary to use a registry cleaner on your computer to keep it running smoothly, we don't agree with this. Registry cleaners were developed in the early days of Windows in the 1990s when the registry was much more susceptible to corruption. Retailers of registry cleaners and other repair software would claim that their programs would fix problems caused by a corrupted registry. As time has gone on, the registry has become more stable and it's not necessary to use a registry cleaner as often. We don't think that you need to use one every time that you run your computer, so we recommend using an Adware removal tool instead.
Video Tutorial for How To Remove Adware & Spyware With an Adware and Spyware Remover Tool
This video tutorial provides a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use the "AdAway" uninstaller tool to safely and efficiently remove adware from your computer. This tutorial is divided into two parts: Part 1: Using the "AdAway" Adware Removal Tool
Part 2: The Advanced AdAway Settings We recommend that you watch part 1 of this video first and then, if you have questions about part 2 (or if you run into any problems when following the tutorial), watch it again afterwards.
The AdAway Tutorial Video Is Available at Vimeo and YouTube Watch Online at Vimeo Watch Online at YouTube This video is available for viewing online by using the links above.
You can also print a copy of this tutorial here.
The "AdAway" Adware & Spyware Removal Tool Is Available at Download Page This tool is available for free download from the Download Page. You can download and use this tool on your own computer, or you can print a copy and use it as a guide while installing it on your computer. The instructions provided below are meant to be followed exactly as written, in case you have problems with the installation process.
The Instructions for Using "AdAway" Will Not Work for Every Computer! This tool was written specifically for the version of Windows that's installed on this computer.
Conclusion
Adware removal tools can be useful in removing adware and spyware from your computer. There are many different tools available for use with various versions of Windows, so do some research on the ones that are available to you and find the one that is most likely to work best on your system. If you can't find a free tool (or if you need a free tool that isn't available), there's no shame in purchasing an AdWare removal utility from a reputable company (such as this one) if it's legitimate software that does what it claims to do.