Adware and Spyware Removal

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a type of malware that attacks the privacy of an individual. It usually comes bundled with other software that you may download and install on your computer. Once installed the malicious software starts tracking your computer and web activities, collects your personal and confidential information, and then transmits it to external sources—usually the creator of the spyware.
This information maybe used to send undesired ads to your computer and at times, cause more severe damage to your computer and even you.

What is Adware?

Advertisement supported software or Adware, as it is usually and unceremoniously called, refers to the software that displays, plays, and downloads advertisement to a computer without the consent or permission of the user.
Spyware and Adware both belong to a class of software that is usually, collectively called privacy invasive software. Some types of Adware might even try and install spyware.

How a PC gets infected with spyware or adware

The most common cause of spyware or adware infection is installation of software that these malicious programs come bundled with. Other common modes of getting infected are dropping off of these malicious programs as payloads by worms and exploitation of loopholes in the basic functionality of your computer by malicious programmers.
These programs might also get automatically installed when an attack or spyware infected website is visited by the user.

Prevention

The following are some of the ways that you can use to prevent these infections.

Use a good browser

Using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer generally leads to a higher risk of acquiring malware infection. This is due to two main reasons. First, the vast user base of Internet Explorer and second, the use of ActiveX that renders the web browser more vulnerable to infections than other browsers. Using a safer browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera or Safari reduces the risk of acquiring an infection.
If you want to use Internet Explorer, you must increase its security to ensure safe browsing.

Stay clear of suspicious websites

Although there can be cases when users might just stumble upon attack websites that look harmless or maybe even useful, generally one can make out which website would have a higher chance of being an attack website. Being cautious and discreet on the Internet is a very good practice.

A good anti-virus tool

Nowadays, most good anti-virus software come bundled with anti-spyware and anti-adware tools. Using a good anti-virus can help you prevent infection.
Scanning external disks
When you connect an external memory device, such as a pen drive or an external hard disk to your computer, it is generally a good practice to first run a virus scan on it before opening it in Windows Explorer. Doing this reduces the chances of infection spreading via this device, if it is infected.

Cure

A good anti-virus tool that comes with spyware and adware removal option is one’s best bet against spyware, adware and other malware infections. These anti-malware tools work in two steps.
Firstly, they prevent the installation or download of any software without the knowledge or permission of the user. They also warn you when you are about to visit a reported attack website. Such real-time protection offered is the best prevention against malware.
Secondly, these tools remove software installed on a computer known to be adware or spyware. This is done by constantly maintaining and updating a database of software known to be malicious in nature.
Regularly scanning your system is a good practice and helps you in keeping your system as free as possible from infections. You must also take care that the malicious software definitions of your anti-virus software are regularly updated. You must use your discretion when browsing the internet to reduce risk of infection from harmful software.