How to stop them
Anti-virus programs check for a great many problems, and generally protect you very well. But when you believe your computer is infected, it's always a good idea to occasionally use a second program to get a "second opinion" to make sure your system is free of malware that anti-virus programs don't always detect. There's another class of security software that will do just that.
For Windows users, a good place to start is Microsoft's Security Scanner, which will scan your system for problems. As always, it's impossible for any software to know about every possible infection, but Microsoft has been putting a lot of effort into providing security for their users in the last few years. Mac users should consult Apple's document What is Malware? for help in finding solutions.
Advertisers are putting their own spin on this game of serupticiously spreading programs with a class of software called "adware" or "spyware" or "malware." Spyware watches which websites you visit and if, for example, you visit a website that sells Nike shoes, you'll get a pop-up ad for Addidas. That's just one of the least intrusive things these little demons can do to you. Or if you try to use Google, some of these programs will redirect you to a different search engine where the only results you'll see are from sites that have paid for it. Adware/Spyware is also quite capable of tracking every website you visit and reporting that information back to advertisers. Worse, the accumulated effects of these pathogens is to slow down your computer or cause it to crash.
In my opinion, there's no difference between viruses, adware, malware, and spyware. All of them invade your computer and intefere with its normal operation in one way or another. Just truly reprehensible stuff, all in all. Fortunately, there are two popular programs for Windows users that will remove adware. One is called "AdAware" and the other is called "Spybot - Search & Destroy." They're both freeware programs.
Here are some programs to prevent or stop some damage already happened.
Download AdAware
Download Spybot - Search & Destroy
Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
For Windows users, a good place to start is Microsoft's Security Scanner, which will scan your system for problems. As always, it's impossible for any software to know about every possible infection, but Microsoft has been putting a lot of effort into providing security for their users in the last few years. Mac users should consult Apple's document What is Malware? for help in finding solutions.
Advertisers are putting their own spin on this game of serupticiously spreading programs with a class of software called "adware" or "spyware" or "malware." Spyware watches which websites you visit and if, for example, you visit a website that sells Nike shoes, you'll get a pop-up ad for Addidas. That's just one of the least intrusive things these little demons can do to you. Or if you try to use Google, some of these programs will redirect you to a different search engine where the only results you'll see are from sites that have paid for it. Adware/Spyware is also quite capable of tracking every website you visit and reporting that information back to advertisers. Worse, the accumulated effects of these pathogens is to slow down your computer or cause it to crash.
In my opinion, there's no difference between viruses, adware, malware, and spyware. All of them invade your computer and intefere with its normal operation in one way or another. Just truly reprehensible stuff, all in all. Fortunately, there are two popular programs for Windows users that will remove adware. One is called "AdAware" and the other is called "Spybot - Search & Destroy." They're both freeware programs.
Here are some programs to prevent or stop some damage already happened.
Download AdAware
Download Spybot - Search & Destroy
Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
