SysChat - How Adware is bad for your PC... and how to get rid of it once and for all!

You download a nice P2P program and with it some software you don’t know. You don’t even bother researching it on the net. Then you work pleasantly on your PC, only to find something popping up in your face, marketing products. You like it and decide not to remove it. A week later you can’t turn on your PC. This was an Adware.

How Adware operates

First of all, it’s usually downloaded within another program. After that it sits quietly in your system, until it finds that you’re searching for something on the internet, to which it has advertisement. Hence, the pop-ups begin. But it‘s not only that, it also searches through your browser’s history, collects info and PC usage pattern. So far so good, then why do we hate Adware?

Apart from ruining your concentration, bombarding you with ads and pop ups, an Adware takes the form of Spyware and it usually operates the same way. So, it will disguise itself as Adware, when in fact it’s Spyware. Why you ask? Because people usually find Adware to be less threatening than Spyware, sometimes they even like the advertising and the products. So, they’ll keep the Adware. An Adware that is actually a Spyware makes you most vulnerable, as you won’t realize you have Spyware. It will operate quietly, copying your personal details, including credit cards, social security number and get you in trouble. Add to this the fact that any information they get from your PC, they’re under no obligation to keep it private. All that while you blissfully watch the ads displayed on your PC.

Adware Effectiveness

But do they work? The Adware main purpose is to collect info about what you like. It retains information about which products you search for online, how many times do you search online for products and calculates an approach. If you click the ad that it presents, this is half the battle for it and so the Adware developer will get some money. If you buy through Adware, then the developer will get even more money. So, for the developer, the incentive is financial, even though they get little money for their services. As for the marketing companies, there is no real research to support whether they gain more money or not, but if you buy, they gain. Even though most ad agencies don’t use Adware, there are some who still do.
Eventually, if no one clicks or buys, the Adware industry will die, but there are people who just don’t get it.

The Adware demise

If you find Adware, you must remove it, end of discussion. Since you don’t know its ulterior motives or agenda, you have to assume the worst. So how do you get rid of them?
Getting rid of Adware can be tricky, but if you follow some steps accurately, it will become an easy job.

First, end all running processes and close all your browsers. In addition, disconnect your PC from the internet, the main Adware feeder. To make sure you are completely disconnected, remove the cable from the socket, turn off the wireless internet (from within your PC), do whatever you can to ensure that you are offline.

Then use your anti-Adware for a full scan, after it finishes, delete all threats, then reboot. Then scan again, if it still shows infection, repeat the rebooting and scanning until it’s clean. To make sure that there is no other infection, reboot your computer in safe mode, where only essential process will be activated, scan again with the anti-Adware and remove all threats.

The after-shock

To make sure that every Adware was removed before you reconnect your computer to the internet, access your browsers settings. Ensure that the homepage is reset to your desired website. Make sure that the Adware websites aren’t in the browser’s trusted list. Check the installed list of programs on your PC, to make sure the Adware isn’t installed. If it is, remove it, scan the system again and repeat the above steps.

Another tip is to check your host files, these are the files which points the web addresses to the correct IP address. Sometimes, the Adware gets hold of them, directing you to whatever it wishes. Checking your host files is most effective when conducted through an anti-Adware program. Just make sure that this feature is included.

After all that, conduct one last scan. If all is well, reconnect your PC to the internet, reboot and use the internet naturally. If you find that the problem persists, download an anti-Adware which offers a log of system files and unreachable corners, where you will most likely find your infection.

To conclude, if you have to download a small program with the initial download; don’t download it at all.