From time to time when browsing the internet for long periods of time and visiting sites that you wouldn’t normally on a daily basis can sometimes end up wreaking havoc in the long run. If you haven’t recently scanned your computer for spyware and you are experiencing slow internet browsing, weird pop ups (ads) and maybe even a sporadic internet connection when trying to access all or certain websites, your computer may be infected with spyware or adware.
According to wikipedia:
Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent.Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software.
So what does one do if this is the case? Well, scan for spyware of course. First you will need a couple of different pieced of anti-spyware programs, one may work just fine but I have noticed if you scan your computer with at least two different programs, usually the second one will pick up some leftovers that the first scanner may have missed. There are commercial spyware scanners sometimes built right into your existing anti-virus software (assuming you have one installed), which can sometimes help only if they are activated and updated on a regular basis. Here are a few recommended freeware anti-spyware applications that I have used in the past with some pretty good success:
1. Ad-Aware
As with any anti-spyware or even anti-virus software, you should immediately update the software definitions before the scan so that you can be sure that you can scan for even the most recent spyware that is out loose on the internet.
After you have downloaded at least two different spyware scanners, go ahead and install and update. Scan with the first, check to see if any spyware or adware has been detected and have the software initiate a removal. After you are done with the first scan, restart your computer and do the same with the second scanner following up with a reboot.
Now you should notice a bit more of a responsive computer after your second restart and should also have a better experience with internet browsing as well. I would recommend scanning for spyware at least every two weeks if you are an average internet user.
