How to recognize adware, and how to avoid it completely

If your computer is suddenly inundated with pop-up ads or your browser keeps sending you to the wrong websites, you may be infected with adware. Windows and Mac are both vulnerable to malicious software that can hijack your browser and litter your screen with advertisements. If your computer has been infected while not protected by security software, you may be worried that you’ve lost everything on your system.

Adware, malware, spyware, and viruses can bring your system to its knees. They are detrimental, lowering the performance of your computer and as a result of which you may have to lose some important files. So, here is a way to keep the nasties away from your computer using these simple tips.

Scan your PC once a week:

Sometimes adware programmers take a sneaky approach. They will set up their programs to run quietly in the background to spy upon your activities. This once a week scan is necessary to remove any of those sneaky bugs.

Download from known sites:

New sites for installing adware are popping up all the time. If you find something that you want to download, make sure that it is from a known site. A company like Amazon will not steer you wrong, but Bob’s House of Wares might be a little less trustable. If you are not sure whether you can trust a site, perform a quick search.

Install Adaware:

Ad-Aware is the most popular free adware removal program on the market. It detects, quarantines and removes adware. It searches for other programs which may have been installed, highlighting them in an easy to use interface. This program does not have an anti-virus attached.

Do not click on unsolicited email:

You are constantly receiving offers to increase this or improve that through unsolicited email. Your curiosity may be killing you, but don’t click on these emails. They accept your click as permission to install adware, spyware, and malware on your PC.

Install Antivirus software:

Installing two programs for virus and adware protection is a smart idea. It caters to the strengths of each program, increasing the overall strength of your anti-adware and antiviral campaign. Some of the best antivirus software is free, providing real-time protection. Programs to look at would be Avast Antivir and AVG.

Don’t install toolbars:

Even some reputable sites install custom toolbars. They slow your system down and collect information about your surfing habits. While a toolbar might offer some perks, it may also diminish your experience by dragging your system to a halt. Toolbars from less reputable places install adware and sometimes infect your system outright.

Look at your task manager:

If anything seems out of place with your computer, take a look at your task manager. This tells you about all of the programs and processes which are running on your computer. Examine the processes tab for anything which you don’t immediately recognize. Perform a web search for unfamiliar processes.

Do not click on unknown popups:

Clicking on a pop-up usually, spells certain doom for your computer. It opens the door for the viruses and adware that want to infect your machine, telling these malicious applications to make themselves at home. Stay away from those constantly advertised screensavers and icons.

Trust your gut:

If you don’t feel right about a site, don’t go there. If you are receiving warnings from the antivirus and anti-adware programs which you’ve installed, don’t go there. If you don’t like the layout of a site, don’t go there. Trust your instincts about sites.

Be vigilant:

With proper vigilance, you can keep aggravating adware, spyware, and malware from your machine. Trust your instincts. Install Ad-Aware and an antivirus program. Play it safe. The care you spend in preventing adware from infecting your machine can save money and time.