Spyware Removal

How to Get Rid of Spyware

The best way to get rid of spyware is to prevent spyware from infecting your computer in the first place. Prevention is always better than can. You can prevent spyware from infecting your computer by taking simple precautions.

This you can do by:

–> Installing a good quality antispyware software.
–> Upgrading your operating system regularly and applying security patches.
–> Using a secure browser.
–> Judiciously using the Internet i.e. avoiding downloading infected files, visited infected websites, taking care with email attachments, etc.
–> Avoiding cracked software, keygens, etc.

However, if your computer is already infected with spyware, you can easily get rid of it by installing a suitable antivirus software and an antispyware.

Install Avira Antivirus (www.free-av.com) and Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) and perform a complete system scan. Both these software are the best in the industry and will detect almost all the spyware and other malware apps without any problem.

Best of all, both of them are free!

Spyware has become a very common problem on the Internet. Studies show that a large number of computers connected to the Internet are infected with spyware and viruses. Spyware writers benefit greatly by writing these malicious programs. In fact, spyware are designed to steal personal information like credit card numbers, banking details, etc. Such sensitive information in bad hands can be very dangerous. It is for this reason that one should be very careful about ensuring online security.

There are several ways by which spyware and other malware programs spread. Many spyware programs exploit software vulnerabilities i.e. faulty code which allows these programs to infect and spread. Several malware also spread through email and infected websites. To prevent spyware, it is necessary to update software regularly by using automatic updates and patches. Updating to the latest web browser or switching to others like Firefox, instead of the default Internet explorer significantly increase the chances of preventing spyware infections.

Getting rid of spyware can sometimes be very difficult. Spyware writers write spyware in such a way that the general user may not even be aware about the computer has been infected. There are many spyware programs that look very similar to anti-spyware software. Users may mistakenly install these spyware thinking that they are genuine spyware removers. However, it is very easy to stay safe from these malware as most genuine antivirus software detect these programs as security threats. Before installing any software, it is recommended to read user reviews and get a good idea about the merits and demerits of the software.

Once infected, many spyware may remain hidden and silent and may remain undetected until a manual virus scan is performed. However, some spyware may slow down the system or show unwanted advertisements to the user through pop-up windows. These are clear indications that computer has been infected. These advertisements generally ask the user to purchase a fake spyware removal tool or may be of adult nature.

The best way to remove spyware is by using a virus scanner or a spyware removal tool. There are many good security software. Some of best known and popular ones are Avira, Norton, AVG and BitDefender. Kaspersky Antivirus is also a good choice. You may have to buy a yearly subscription to use these software. However, the investment is worth it and will keep your computer and privacy safe. There are also several free security software. Most notable are Avira Personal Free, Avast Free and AVG Free.

Spyware can also be removed manually by locating the files and deleting them and then removing all the keys and references related to the files. However, it a bit difficult and needs knowledge and expertise. There are certain tools like HijackThis that create a log file about your computer’s configuration and help in identifying the malware. The next step would be to take the help of an expert at an online forum and follow the steps suggested. There are many such forums online and most of them are free to join.

There are several free spyware removal tools available on the Internet. You don’t have to pay or buy a license to use these software on your computer. Usually these are community based software projects. Some of these are also supported by companies. Still others are “lite versions” of the commercially available software. Many of these tools are almost at par with the paid versions. However, you can expect complete protection and best performance only from paid spyware removal tools. Paid spyware removal tools offer better customer service and update their signatures more often when compared with free ones. Having said this, here is a list of free spyware removal software:

Spyware Terminator

Spyware terminator is one of best spyware removal tools. Its performance is comparable to most paid/commercial solutions. Here are some of the features offered by Spyware Terminator:

* Fast spyware scanning
* 100% real-time protection
* HIPS protection
* Antivirus protection
* Multilanguage Support
* Free customer support

Spyware Terminator is free for both home and business use. However, a paid corporate edition is also available with more sophisticated features.

Ad Aware 2008 Free

Ad Aware 2008 Free is one of the most popular spyware removal tools. The latest version features many improvements like better detection, enhanced rootkit removal, and compatibility with Windows Vista. A commercial version is also available (Ad Aware 2008 Pro).

Spybot Search & Destroy

Spybot Search & Destroy works exceptionally well in detecting and removal spyware, trojan horses and other malware. For optimum protection use Spybot along with Ad Aware. You can detect even very rare spyware this way as they will compensate for each other’s weaknesses. Spybot Search and Destroy is available completely free of charge.

Tips to stay safe from spyware

You can prevent your computer from getting infected with spyware by following some simple security measures. Some of these are listed below:

==> Use a secure browser: Most spyware and malware make use of browser vulnerabilities to infect the host computer. Using a secure browser can prevent such spyware from infecting your computer. We recommend using Mozilla Firefox or Opera instead of Internet explorer which comes installed by default.

==> Install security software: You must and should install an antivirus program, a spyware scanner and a firewall on your computer. Firewall software protect your computer from hacking attempts from the Internet.

==> Download software from secure sites: You should always download software from reputed websites like Download.com. Never download software from peer2peer networks, torrents or file sharing sites like rapidshare or megaupload. Often, these files may be bundled with malicious code.

==> Always scan files before opening: Before opening any file (e.g. Word documents, PDF, etc), scan it with your antivirus scanner. Spyware and other malware are often embedded with executable files.

==> Be careful with email attachments: Many spyware and virus programs spread through email attachments. If you get email attachments from unknown senders, please don’t open them without scanning throughly. You should always scan the attached files with a virus scanner or a spyware scanner before opening them.

==> Update your operating system: Update your operating system by installing the latest service packs, patches and hotfixes. These patches are designed to fix security vulnerabilities in the operating system. In other words, installing updates makes your computer more secure and keeps you safe from spyware and other malicious applications.