Many of you may have noticed that your computer no longer runs like when you bought it. It may seem slow and even take longer to load Windows. Although there are other possibilities, a common cause is the presence of adware and spyware on your computer.  The following section is devoted to removing and preventing the installation of these programs.

First you will want to run a couple of scans to detect and remove Adaware. The self help section to the left contains links to Lavasoft Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy. As there is not a single program that detects all adware/spyware programs, I recommend the use of these two products. They are both available for free and contain the most up to date detection database.

After installing these programs you will need to run each one making sure to update them before scanning your computer. Both contain detailed help regarding the use of the program. Basically, both programs will scan the computer for these destructive types of programs and then provide you with the means to remove them. Spybot even goes a step further with the immunization process which will install safeguards to prevent many of these programs from installing again.

Finally you may be wondering where you obtained adware or spyware. Let me start by saying not everything you download from the internet is safe to install on your computer. Adware/spyware are commonly installed when you choose to install another program you downloaded. Such file sharing applications as Morpheus and Kazaa piggybacked these extra programs into the install without your knowledge. Morpheus has since cleaned up its act and Kazaa is now extinct thanks to the RIAA. Often times the installation of these other programs was mentioned in the EULA but who reads those? So what can you do to ensure a download is safe from these extras? Start by checking to see if they are available from Download.com. Download.com has instigated a strict policy on the inclusion of hidden installations with a program by banning all such programs from their website. On a final note, make sure you are cautious when you download programs from the internet by verifying that the website you are obtaining it from is legitimate.

The spread of viruses across the internet has rapidly become a widespread problem as the internet continues to offer faster downloads and always on connections. The following describes steps you can take to prevent and remove virus infections from your computer.

Do you currently have an up to date antivirus protection on your computer? If not, you are putting yourself at risk from a wide range of attacks from the internet. There are a many ways your computer can be infected. It can originate from an email, a exploit in Microsoft Windows, or can be sent via instant messaging applications.

To protect your computer from these attacks you should obtain an antivirus solution and ensure that your current antivirus program is up to date. Also it is necessary to use Microsoft Update to patch any exploits that have been found since your version of Windows was installed. But what if you suspect you are already infected with a virus? In that case you will need to run a virus scan. You will notice a link in the Self help section to the left of the page that reads Free Online Scan and also a link to McAfee AVERT Stinger. The Free Online Scan will direct you to a website that will prompt you to install an online scanner while the McAfee AVERT Stinger is a program you download that is able to detect and remove 40+ of the most common viruses spreading through the internet. This will help you detect and remove any virus threats currently on your computer but you will still want to install a permanent antivirus program on the computer. There is a free basic antivirus called AVG Free linked to in the Self Help section. You may, however, want to purchase antivirus software as they often offer more features than a free version will. Some even scan your computer for adware and spyware. There are links on this page to Norton Antivirus and McAfee Antivirus which are the two major antivirus companies. Whatever route you choose will be better than no antivirus protection.