If you browse the Internet or frequently install third-party programs, you may notice some other programs that come in the form of advertisements, toolbars, and popups. These types of unwanted code and software are known as adware. Getting rid of some forms of adware can be difficult since the developers really do not want their targeted users to remove it. As long as the it is active, developers can either steal private data and/or gain advertising revenue as a result. The best way to get rid of adware is to use some free scanner tools after you performed a little bit of computer housekeeping.
- First, figure out what types of adware you can actually remove. Some forms come with uninstallers are recommended for complete removal. It is important to note that some uninstallers might be adware in disguise but don’t worry because future steps will remove those. You can see a list of your currently installed programs by clicking the Start menu and typing “Programs and Features” without quotes. You can find this option in the Control Panel as well. Scroll through the list and find any suspicious programs that you think might be connected to the adware that you see while you use your system. For instance, if you have this annoying weather toolbar, look for anything that has the name “Weather” in it. If you are still having difficulty, try sorting the list by publisher and disregard any entries that come from trusted publishers. Most adware do not have the publisher listed at all.
- If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, you have a chance to get rid of a lot of the adware right now. You can find Windows Defender in the Start menu. Starting a scan is as easy as clicking the “Scan” button so your computer can examine all areas in all of your hard disks for infection. While the process can take long if you have a lot of files in your system, full scans are best if you have never used Windows Defender in the past. If you cannot find Windows Defender, skip this step because Microsoft has a better application that supersedes Windows Defender.
- Rather that downloading a third-party application, give Microsoft Security Essentials a try first. This program not only scans for spyware and adware but it also scans for viruses. Unlike many of the other anti-virus applications, Microsoft Security Essentials has a minimal interface that resembles Windows Defender. Just scan for malware and leave your system alone so you can come back with a useful report that shows what has been detected and deleted.
- Once the scan completes, restart your system and try launching your favorite applications and browsers. If you still notice some broken adware traces, you may have to configure the application and explore the plug-ins section. This usually applies to browsers where adware scanners do not fully remove certain elements.
- If none of Microsoft’s solutions help you, you can always install another anti-adware application like SpyBot Search & Destroy or Lavasoft Ad-Aware. Both applications are free and have been in development far longer than Microsoft’s anti-aware solutions. No matter what program you use, make sure that the program has the most recent signature definitions so your scanner can deal with newer forms of adware.
