Ad Aware - Spyware Blocker and Anti-virus

Developed by LavaSoft, Ad-Aware is a free, simple, and effective program that is designed to provide advance and effective protection against adwares and spyware.

Ad- Aware isn’t just limited to detecting unwanted programs but it also equipped to scan your RAM, registry, hard drives, external storage devices, and also for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components and safely removes software that may pose a threat to your system.

Some of the ad programs Ad- Aware can remover are Adware, Aureate/Radiate, OnFlow, Comet-Cursor, Cydoor, Doubleclick, EverAd, Flyswat, and TimeSink.

Ad-aware can be regarded as one of the requisites of anyone using the internet to safe-guard there systems against possible threats.

Ad-aware is available in its standard edition for free. Other editions include the Plus and Professional editions which has more enhanced functionality where you need to purchase an end-user license.

Spyware Blockers – How to Recognize SpywareMany people do not realize that they have spyware on their computer. For most people, viruses are more of a worry to people because viruses affect you and try to spread the infection to other people. Also, in this day and age, spyware blockers software is quite good and can prevent most infections from getting installed onto your computer.

If you suspect that your computer has been the target of a nefarious program, then double check any anti-virus or spyware blocking software that you have installed to make sure that the updates are current. Then run a complete scan of your computer with both anti-virus and spyware detection software.

If one or more of these scans is positive, then the software should automatically clean the infection from your computer. In some cases it may not be able to remove the malicious software however. In such cases itwill attempt to “quarantine” the software so it is unable to run and cause any more harm. Often a system reboot will then allow the software to beremoved.

So how can you tell the difference between a spyware infection and a virus infection? Well usually spyware is much easier to detect because it’s effects in general are more visible because it is often bundled with adware which will bombard you with advertising pop-ups.

Here are some ways to recognize whether or not you have malicious software on your computer:

1. You experience a large increase in pop-up ads. These could be text ads, picture ads, or even worse-offensive adult advertisements.

2. Your browser home page defaults have been changed to an unknown website – many times spyware will change your browser settings so that the main “home” default web page is the malicious software’s site.

3. You attempt to go to one website and instead you end up at another site. This is called redirection and is an indicator of malicious software.

Keep in mind that the most dangerous kind of spyware is the type that doesn’t exhibit any strange behavior, but is secretly keeping track of all your activiites. It could be collecting all the sites you visit, the keys you type, the files you access, and sending this data to a central location for use by others.

If you suspect that your computer has indeed become infected? Then I suggest that you think back to your recent activities. Did you recently install any free software? This could even have been a free anti spyware program. These are notorious for actually being spyware itself! For that reason it is important to be careful for any spyware download programs.