Using a high quality anti adware and spyware software has helped to clear up my PC of annoying adware like Adware.Bestrevenue and increased its speed significantly.
Think of practicing safe surfing on the same level as practicing safe sex. Just because you always use a condom does not mean you are completely safe. This is especially true if you are bringing home a different partner every night, including people you just met.
Even without the sex involved, just the fact that you are inviting strangers into your home is a security risk that no amount of safe sex practice can protect you from. Tomorrow, when you can't find your watch, you may have a better understanding of the mistake in your thinking.
Well, when you are surfing all kinds of websites, your computer is interacting with other computers and it is very possible for malware to slip into your system. Your anti-virus program probably does not protect you from adware and spyware. You usually need another application to not only find and deal with spyware & adware that is currently in your computer, but also to run in the background and protect from getting any more.
Adware programs will give you pop up advertisements that come out of nowhere. They can be very annoying and they can also slow your computer down or get in the way of your surfing. Spyware is more malicious. It doesn't want to show you ads, it wants to record your surfing habits and send it to the owner of the malware. Sometimes, it will record sensitive information. It can lead to identify theft.
These programs usually come in when you download free programs. You should only download anything from trusted sources, but it is difficult to always say no. Besides, sometimes trusted sites are hacked, and unknown to the good owners of these trusted sites, they give out viruses, Trojans and worms.
You should never feel totally safe to surf any site or download any application. You should keep in mind that you are always taking some level of risk. You should have programs in place to minimize your risk, but just as important, you need to refrain from risky behavior.
Pornographic and gambling websites are infamous for the damage they do to computers. Unfortunately, not all of the offenders are found on websites that cater to vices. A high percentage of offers you get for free screensavers and backgrounds, as well as emoticons (smiley faces) for use in email, computer games, instant weather and new updates, and peer to peer (P2P) file sharing programs, have some rather unpleasant surprises awaiting you.
You definitely need a good antivirus program, but you also need a program to remove adware and spyware. It is usually a two step process. First, you download the program, and then you click on the icon and run the installer. As soon as it is installed, it will start scanning your computer. You may be surprised at how much malware that is picked up. This program will continue to run in the background providing you with real time protection.
