Adware scare you much? This gremlin can get anywhere
In case you haven't heard, adware is a type of malware that installs in your browsers, across your other programs, on your system. It can also track what you search for and where you go online. Adware has the power to hijack previously-installed programs against your will. It can redirect ads within the browser or outside; it lurks in the background without any indication whatsoever. It can cause your web browser to go haywire and do a variety of other insidious things.
Now, adware comes in many forms, some of which are easy to detect and remove, while others may be getting harder to detect as the malware moves into newer areas on the Internet. Today's modern adware is often bundled with other applications and downloaded by unsuspecting people. Some are baked right into search engines so that even if people don't download it, they're still affected by it.
So it's up to you, the user, to protect yourself from these unwelcome intruders.
This article does not teach you how to install adware on your computer. It only teaches you how to remove it once and for all.
How Can Adware Get On Your Computer?
Adware can get on your computer in a number of places. Here are some examples of common methods:
One way that adware can leap upon your system is by making a 'call home' (to the web server) for assistance in downloading itself into your system. Usually, this download happens automatically as you surf the Net and is hidden behind an innocuous-looking link or perhaps a pop-up ad.
This type of adware is usually in the form of an applet or a small program. You may have seen one of these recently:
You may have noticed that there was an option on this page to "Download Adware Removal Tool." Pressing this button brought up an error page for the download, which you can view here . Of course, you'll only see this error page if the above link fails to work for some reason.
If you still like it, click on the link provided, and it will bring up a collection of links to other sites that are not really related to adware removal. However, there is one that links to Adware Doctor . The fact that this last link is not related to adware means you can trust it.
You may also come across adware in the form of an annoying popup page on your machine -- hopefully only once!
You can prevent this kind of adware infection by not clicking on ads, and never downloading apps from strangers or anywhere else.
How Do I Get Rid of Adware?
Unfortunately, there are a great number of places from where a variety of different types of adware can sneak onto your system despite your best efforts to avoid it. Fortunately, there is a great number of programs that can help you to remove these unwelcome intruders.
For removal, I have had good luck with the following tools: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free edition) Adaware 6 Spybot Search and Destroy
I know that you're probably used to using Microsoft Security Essentials for computer protection, but it does not offer adequate adware detection or removal. So once again I will state right here that in my honest opinion, free anti-malware programs are better than paid ones.
Please note: Spybot Search and Destroy is not an anti-malware program. It is merely a collection of removal tools for different types of malware. Therefore, I have had mixed success in its removal of adware.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Another good anti-malware program is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free edition). This program has a very useful tool to see which applications might be causing issues on your machine. You can also use this tool to analyze and clean out Windows Registry entries that are DANGEROUS or UNREGISTRED , which can help prevent other malware from getting on your machine in the future.
To download this program, click here . A trial version is available that lasts 30 days. Once you install it, you will have to update it every three months until you purchase a license for its full version.
After installing it, the program will launch automatically. You can keep it running in the background for optimal protection or you can minimize it to the taskbar.
Adware Doctor
McAfee On-Demand Scanner
Avira Free Antivirus
Spyware Terminator (recommended by Microsoft)
There are also a number of other pieces of software that are available to help remove adware. Check your Internet Options and look for one that is most appropriate for your needs. The program itself might be free, but you might have to pay a monthly subscription fee - ask if this applies to your situation.
Adaware 6
If you have trouble with Malwarebytes or prefer a different program, consider Adaware 6. It is free to try, but you will have to pay for it after a 15-day trial period. It has received good reviews from users and is capable of removing adware from your system.
To learn more about Adaware 6 or to download it, visit the following link: http://www.ad-aware.com/
Spybot Search and Destroy
I also recommend Spybot Search and Destroy , because I like its anti-adware functions. To learn more about this powerful anti-malware program, visit: http://www.safer-networking.org/
To download Spybot Search and Destroy, go to this link: http://www.safer-networking.org/download/index.html
Avira AntiVir Personal (recommended by Microsoft)
Microsoft also recommends Avira AntiVir Personal (32-bit or 64-bit). To learn more about it, visit the following link: http://www.avira.com/en/download/avira__free_antivirus_personal.html
Spyware Terminator
If you want a program that focuses on spyware removal and offers lots of protection features (anti-phishing, anti-malware), try Spyware Terminator .
Conclusion
Your best protection is to protect yourself from adware on the Internet. You should also run an anti-malware program on your computer to detect and remove adware or malware that might affect your system. You can learn more about anti-malware programs at StopAd or Spybot Search and Destroy .
Not all programs are created equal, so please use whatever works best for you. One of these should be sufficient to help you remove any type of adware from your machine.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
This article was written by a software engineer, not a lawyer. I did my research to make sure that everything I said was as accurate as possible, but I do not guarantee 100% accuracy .