by Jeffrey Ober

Created on: October 28, 2009

Spyware, malware, and adware (malware) can all greatly affect your computer. If you use the Internet, you are at risk, at least somewhat, to getting infected or attacked by one of those types of programs. However, it is almost as easy to remove them as it is to get infected by them.

Detecting an Infection

When your computer is infected with any type of malware, often there will be no obvious signs. Your computer may be a little slower, or the computer may be more active than normal when you're not using it. In some cases, you can see activity over the Internet when you're not using the Internet. The best way to check to see if you're infected is to actually attempt to remove the malware.

Software for Removal

There are thousands of different programs that have been created just to remove malware. However, some of these programs are actually destructive programs that contain malware themselves, so be careful when selecting your removal program. You can choose to pay for one of these programs, or you can obtain a free program that will do the same thing. One of the best, most reliable places to to find safe software to download is download.com.

Ad-Aware

The program I have used for years to keep my computers free of malware is Ad-Aware. It is a free program that can be obtained at download.com. There is a free version of the program, and a paid upgrade that will give you more features. The free version, however, will install and allow you to remove all types of malware that might be on your computer.

When you start the Ad-Aware program, it will ask if you want to upgrade - you are not required to upgrade to use the software. Next you click the button marked "Update" to ensure that you have the latest definition files from the Internet. The program will download the updates and return you to the main screen. Just select the "Scan" button from the main screen, and the program will do the rest of the work for you. Ad-Aware will locate any malware on your computer and give you the option to remove or quarantine it. In each case, the software will give you suggestions, and following those suggestions is a good idea if you don't understand the question.

Once you have completed the scan, your computer will be free of malware. You should complete this scan on a regular basis, at least once a month, more if you use the Internet more often. If you purchase the upgrade for Ad-Aware, you can set a schedule for automatic scans that will happen without you having to remember!

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