How to Remove Popups and Spyware

If your computer exhibits any of the following traits, it has probably been the victim of a "spyware" infection:

• Advertising "Pop-ups" appear on your screen, sometimes while you aren't even using your computer.
• The home page of your web browser has changed to a site that you do not recognize.
• Your computer seems slower than it used to be.
• Strange icons and folders appear on your desktop and start menu.

Spyware is a program that you or someone else unwittingly installed on your computer, allowing certain nefarious companies to monitor your activities on your computer and display annoying advertisements when you least expect them.

Special programs are usually required to remove Spyware from an "infected" computer. The best program that I have come across is called AdAware , from Lavasoft. This program is completely free, always updated and will remove every last popup and spyware program on your computer.

Download AdAware

When you click on the link above, your computer should begin to download the AdAware software. When it prompts you to run or save the download, choose "Run".

As the AdAware software installs, click "Next" several times, accepting the default options. Once the install has been completed, you will need to find the AdAware icon in your Windows Start Menu and launch Ad-Aware. It is located a folder called "Lavasoft Ad-Aware 6".

When the program launches, it is important that you always click "Check for Updates Now". This will insure that you always have the latest spyware signatures. When you are ready, click "Start" and follow the prompts. Ad-aware will begin to scan your computer for pop-up software.At the end, you will be prompted to delete all spyware programs. In my experience, it is almost always safe to do so.

Congratulations, your computer is now spyware-free. It is important to run this software every few weeks to make sure that your computer is clean. Also, please remember to use the "check for updates" option every time you run Ad-Aware.

Kiger Computer Solutions