One fact of life is that as long as we have computers we will be subjected to threats from spyware, adware, malware, Trojans, keyloggers (watching our keystrokes), and annoying pop-ups. In other words, we must find a way to handle the issue versus letting it just happen.
Fortunately, there are solid tools to remove these threats. With some basic steps and quality spyware remover software, your current problems will fade in 10-15 minutes.
This article will focus on correction of spyware, adware, and malware problems and not prevention, so you may want to also want to research a strategy to prevent spyware from attaching itself onto your computer in the first place.
The following five steps will assist you to remove threats that currently exist on your computer:
Step One: Notice Problems that Currently Exist
Knowing a baseline (starting point) of problems is always useful because you can then compare the problems with the results after the repair.
Write down all of the issues that you have noticed on your computer that have caused challenges for you. For example, if you are directed away from your normal home page while browsing the internet and are taken to undesirable sites, write it down. If you are getting pop-ups that just keep appearing, write it down. If your computer is crawling like a turtle, write it down.
Step Two: Choose a Product to Conduct a Free Scan
Most of the quality products on the market offer free scan ability prior to purchasing a repair element within the software. If you are looking for a product that is completely free, there can be a price to pay in additional spyware installed to your system due to the EULA (End User License Agreement) you agree to when downloading the software. In exchange for having the free software, you often agree to allow them to view your online habits or to send advertising to you. So, is free really free? You decide.
There are two types of products out there. One has real time protection and the other can just be updated before each use and you run it as you like. Real time keeps spyware and adware from loading to your PC in the first place. The only problem is that often their definition (solutions) database does not have a detection or cure yet, so you are just using system space during running processes.
There are software programs, like Xoftspyse that choose not to run real time and can be used on a scheduler or manually as you need them. The important factor is the level of database they have that can match to and remove threats from your PC.
Step Three: After Getting Free Scan Results Pay for the Repair Function
The results should come back according to threat level. You can then decide what you would like to rid of. Most of the results are usually cookies which are relatively safe to remove.
If you are a non technical type, you can trust the software to do the job knowing that a backup is there in case you don't like the results. There is plenty of data available for people who wish to do their own manual removals, but that we are aiming at simplicity and speed here.
Choose a product that gives a long-term license and not just a one time use. This will allow you to run the software once a week (or as needed) for at least a one year timeframe with the same investment.
After you repair your system, it is always a good idea to shut down and restart your computer for the changes apply. Go back and compare the results to your initial list.
Again, a strategy to remove software is only one piece of the solution. The other is to start developing habits that will keep spyware from adhering to your computer in the first place, which is a topic for another article.
