Five Steps You can Take to Protect Your Computer from Adware
July 14, 2008 by Antivirus Ware.com - Download Norton Antivirus software instantly!Any software application that displays, downloads, or plays advertising material on your computer is known as Adware. It is also referred to as advertising-supported software, but adware is what is most commonly used to describe the three functions mentioned above. This normally occurs when you download or install a program on your computer, or may happen when the application is running. Additonally, Adware that is also classified as Spyware is categorized as privacy-invasive software.
It is similar to Spyware in that it gets installed on your computer without your consent or your knowledge. However, Spyware is used to track your habits on the computer, whereas Adware functions by displaying advertising banners even when you are not running the program that it came from. It is also a certainty that if you have Adware on your computer, Spyware is infecting it as well. Here are five steps that you can take to protect your computer from Adware.
Step #1 – Run anti-Spyware and adware programs. Perform scans and then reboot your computer when you have finished.
Step #2 – Use anti-virus protection and run scans on your computer regularly. You should do this in conjunction with #1 above.
Step #3 – Avoid the urge to download free files. These are free for one reason only and that is to infect your computer.
Step #4 – Ensure that your security levels are sufficient enough to protect you. Check the code levels and make sure that your protection level is running at a minimum of the Medium setting.
Step #5 – Always read the “End-User Agreement” whenever installing any type of software. Believe it or not, some of these agreements actually tell you that Spyware is being installed with the program.
