If you are a computer user struggling with poor performance because your computer keeps freezing up or you constantly get irritated with sometimes totally inappropriate popups, there may be a virus or spyware on your computer.
Spyware is just what it sounds like - programs designed to collect data from your computer without your permission.
Sometimes, it does more than just collect data.
This is when it falls under the category of adware and malware.
Some of the worst malware will actually hijack your computer.
Let's say you want to go to Google, for example.
Instead of taking you there, you would be led to a totally different page.
Or, every time you tried to visit a site, another one would pop up.
As a parent with kids on the computer who has suffered with malware, I will tell you that many pop ups are extremely inappropriate for family computers because of their graphic adult nature.
Your kids could be on the Disney website or another trusted kids' site and without warning a disgusting adult ad could appear because of malware.
So how can you get rid of all this junk? One strategy is to have an antivirus software program running at all times.
AVG offers a free program, but if you want something that offers maximum protection you will need to pay for a year's subscription to a good antivirus program.
Free spyware checkers are OK, the problem with many of them is that they are free to download and will check for spyware for free, but not remove it until you pay.
This is a very common sales strategy for most every free spyware checker program.
With the average free spyware checker that is what you get - a system scan, the results of the scan, and a sales pitch so you will buy the software to remove all the spyware found.
One free program for adware is called Ad Aware and will locate and remove certain types of adware programs from your computer for free.
Whether you need a free program or a paid one depends on how bad your computer problems are.
Usually only the paid programs, or a paid computer repair person, can restore your computer back to like-new condition and remove stubborn viruses that have burrowed deep into the computer system.
Spyware is just what it sounds like - programs designed to collect data from your computer without your permission.
Sometimes, it does more than just collect data.
This is when it falls under the category of adware and malware.
Some of the worst malware will actually hijack your computer.
Let's say you want to go to Google, for example.
Instead of taking you there, you would be led to a totally different page.
Or, every time you tried to visit a site, another one would pop up.
As a parent with kids on the computer who has suffered with malware, I will tell you that many pop ups are extremely inappropriate for family computers because of their graphic adult nature.
Your kids could be on the Disney website or another trusted kids' site and without warning a disgusting adult ad could appear because of malware.
So how can you get rid of all this junk? One strategy is to have an antivirus software program running at all times.
AVG offers a free program, but if you want something that offers maximum protection you will need to pay for a year's subscription to a good antivirus program.
Free spyware checkers are OK, the problem with many of them is that they are free to download and will check for spyware for free, but not remove it until you pay.
This is a very common sales strategy for most every free spyware checker program.
With the average free spyware checker that is what you get - a system scan, the results of the scan, and a sales pitch so you will buy the software to remove all the spyware found.
One free program for adware is called Ad Aware and will locate and remove certain types of adware programs from your computer for free.
Whether you need a free program or a paid one depends on how bad your computer problems are.
Usually only the paid programs, or a paid computer repair person, can restore your computer back to like-new condition and remove stubborn viruses that have burrowed deep into the computer system.
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