Say Goodbye to Adware


by Josh George - Date: 2007-01-14 - Word Count: 440 Share This!

There are people from all over the world that have experienced adware. As they casually surf the web or use their computers, adware will pop up advertisements on people's computers without hesitation. To help put an end to this frustration, this article will explain the five steps you need to do to make adware a thing of the past.

1. Download With Caution

Adware lives in downloads. Whether you download things off of the web, from peer-to-peer programs, or through instant messaging software, always download with caution. For the most part, adware is incorporated into applications that can be freely downloaded, but that doesn't mean that people can't put some adware of their own into other programs. As software becomes more sophisticated, adding things such as adware to other applications becomes easier for the typical user.

2. Use Adware Detection and Adware Prevention Software

Granted, adware is becoming more widespread on the Internet, but that doesn't mean it can not be detected by various security solutions. Make sure that you have such tools and anti-spyware, anti-adware, and anti-virus software on your computer. Equally important is to make sure that all of the definitions are constantly updated on your adware removal and security software. Adware and other malicious software will evolve and change, and the only way your security software can detect these new changes is if you keep their definitions and signatures constantly updated.

3. Practice Safe Browsing Habits

While adware primarily comes from various forms of downloads, it can shed itself in a variety of other places, particularly in websites. Through adding specific code on websites, adware can automatically install itself on your computer just by visiting a site. With that in mind, make sure not to go to websites that seem sketchy. This step also acts as an ideal stepping stone for the fourth step of adware prevention...

4. Update Your Internet Browsers

Just by adding specific code in a website does not mean you will automatically get adware from visiting a site: certain prerequisites have to be met. These prerequisites (if you even want to call them "prerequisites") usually have to do with vulnerabilities in old versions of internet browsing software, such as Internet Explorer. To optimally protect yourself from this form of adware propagation, make sure you have the most updated version of your favorite Internet browser. Better yet, stay away from Internet Explorer and venture into different browsers such as Firefox and Opera.

5. Install Toolbars in Your Browser

Toolbars can do a variety of things to enhance a user's Internet experience. Some of these toolbars can also secure your system as you browse the web. Install toolbars such as Microsoft's new security toolbar and any other toolbar you feel adds additional protection in terms of adware prevention and detection.


Related Tags: malware, spyware, adware, adware removal, pop ups, pop up, pop-up, pop-ups, advertisements

Josh George has been an active member in the computer security and internet security community since 1998. He has made many presentations to groups that involved members from the FBI, DoD, and NSA and hopes to now help personal and small business users. To learn more about computer security and internet security, the link below provides time-tested best practices and recommended tools: Computer Protection.

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