Four Signs you Need to Remove Adware From Your Computer - By: KD Bickell

It's hard to believe, but there are unscrupulous companies out there that are willing to do almost anything to tell potential customers about their Web site or product. Some companies accomplish this with adware, a type of program that is installed on a user's system without their consent.

Adware is often bundled with other types of software, so you may get more than that game or neat application you agreed to download onto your hard drive. The good news is that adware can either be uninstalled or removed with anti-spyware software.

Here are four signs your computer might be infected with adware:

1) Your computer is running slower than normal: This is a common sign your computer might be infected with adware or other malware. Time to run a full scan and see what the software finds.

2) Your home page has changed: Adware can cause your home page to change. If you open your browser and your home page is now a porn site instead of MSN, you probably have adware on your system. Your home page should never change unless you personally modify the settings.

3) You are getting a lot of pop ups: This is one of the most annoying effects of malware. Every few minutes, you get a pop up telling you all about a company's product or service. This can cause your computer to freeze or crash depending on how often these irritating ads are being displayed. In some cases, they may appear almost constantly.

4) You are getting redirected to other sites while online: No matter what URL you type in, you are being redirected to a different site. This is a well-known effect of malware, and it can make getting where you need to go online practically impossible.

Keeping your computer free of adware is much easier than fixing it once it is infected. The two best programs for removing adware are SpyBot and Adaware. Both have free versions, and will remove most of the junky programs that can find their way onto your computer.

About the Author

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