By: Matt Marose
The following is a guide on how to remove spyware, adware, and
pop-up ads using FREE tools ready to download anytime.
Don't settle for advertisements that sell $30 software programs
that CLAIM to remove all these annoyances, when in reality all
they do is hog system resources and slow your computer down even
more.
Now, of course there are people out there who have their own
little utilities they use that are just "wonderful" for this
kind of operation, but the following tools I use, to this day,
to completely rid my computer of anything that would cause it to
slow down or rig it with pop-up ad crap all over the place. Also
included is information about a free anti-virus tool that can
get rid of viruses even commercial anti-virus programs can't
detect!
So, onto the good stuff.
The first program is called SpyBot Search and Destroy. It can be
downloaded at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
You can also type in "SpyBot" at google.com and it'll come up as
the first link.
SpyBot is a great, FREE application used to get rid of spyware
and adware. When you first install it, it'll take you through a
wizard that'll set you up for first time use. This includes
downloading updated lists, backing up your system, and even
IMMUNIZATION of future malicious Internet Explorer scripts! Oh
yea, did I mention it has a tool called the "Hosts" feature? You
can do a google search on "hosts file" which will give you an
interesting tip on how to block ads. Not many people know about
this trick, and it's a shame, because it WORKS. Anyway, SpyBot
has an option that allows you to add a lists of marketing
servers to your hosts lists which automatically blocks them. Go
ahead and try it, the results will speak for themselves.
The next tool to download is Adaware (That's "ad-A-ware" NOT
"adware"). This can be downloaded at
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Once again, just type in "adaware" in google.com and click the
first link.
Adware is another program like SpyBot that gets rid of spyware,
adware, viruses, and all the small little annoyances that bury
themselves into your system files and cause all sorts of
trouble. Sometimes Adaware will catch things that NO OTHER
application will find. Just do an update and system scan as if
it were an anti-virus tool. You will be suprised at how many
things this tool will pick up.
After you've removed all that crap from your system, the next
step is to download a FREE anti-virus tool called AVG. This can
be downloaded at http://www.grisoft.com
...or type "AVG" in google.com and click the first link. (Gotta
love Google).
Just install, update, and do a system scan. This nifty little
anti-virus tool also can schedule updates and system scans. So,
be sure to configure that when you get the chance.
Another tool (well, more like an internet browser) that
eliminates viruses, adware, spyware and pop-up ads is called
FireFox. This can be downloaded at http://www.mozilla.org and
the link is right there on the front page. You can also find it
on google ;)
Well, that's about it. These tools are all free. There are
editions available that you have to pay for, but the free
versions will get the job done just fine. Gotta love FREE stuff
that WORKS, huh?
Matt Marose
Visit my blog for more articles and fun, interesting content!
http://marosenet.blogspot.com
About the author:
Visit my blog at http://marosenet.blogspot.co
m.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment