Eliminating and preventing spyware and adware

The most common problem for Internet users today is the unwanted installation of spyware and adware on Windows computers. An effective tool for removing this unwanted software is Ad-Aware. Use the following steps to install and use this utility.

Removal

Download Lavasoft Ad-Aware and save to your hard drive.
Click on the downloaded file to install the program.
Once installed, an icon for Ad-Aware will appear on your desktop. Double-click to run the program.
Press the Check for updates now link on the main page to update the reference file before using the first time, then again once a week to keep the definitions file current.
Click on Scan Now, then press Perform Smart System Scan, then Next. Once it has finished scanning, press the Next button again to view objects found. Right-click with your mouse in the box of the first item listed and choose Select All Objects from the menu.
Click on the Negligible Objects tab at the top of the page. Again, right-click with your mouse in the box of the first item listed and choose Select All Objects from the menu.
Press Next, Ad-aware will automatically quarantine and remove all items marked.
Follow the instructions to restart your computer if prompted.

Not all spyware and adware can be removed through the Ad-Aware utility. Another utility that can help is Spybot Search & Destroy. This utility requires more attention to detail and is not recommended for the beginning user.

Prevention

The majority of spyware comes from free downloads, such as screen savers or toolbar offers. It appears you are just downloading an entertaining set of screen savers, but what you don't see is the spyware that is installing itself in the background. The safest practice is to be very careful what programs you install, and be suspicious of "free" offers. They can end up costing a lot of time and effort.

A common misconception is that getting a "pop-up blocker" can solve the pop-up problem. An abundance of pop-up windows is the most visible indication of a problem with spyware. Blocking them will only prevent you from realizing you have a problem, and slow your computer down while the spyware and pop-up blocker take up system resources. Though pop-up windows are the most visible indication, they are not the most dangerous aspect of spyware. Other problems can include changing your start page, changing proxy and DNS settings for your Internet connection and adding rogue dialers that can cause long-distance charges on your phone bill.