Adware Removers

You normally get adware by downloading free software, screensavers and other items such as toolbars and shopping comparison software.  In exchange for letting you download the material, you agree (it's in the user licensing agreement that no one ever reads) to allow the display of advertising.  Adware applications are small, and often installed without your knowledge (although you probably did give your consent when you said OK to the user agreement).  Once installed, some adware is easily removed by uninstalling the freeware you downloaded.  Much adware however, is not that easy to get rid of.  If you do a lot of downloading, you may have dozens of adware applications on your computer - making their presence known by a continual display of popup ads, banners, and hijacked home pages. 

How Do You Get Rid of Adware?

The only good way to get rid of adware is by using an adware remover, or anti adware software.  Because adware and spyware are so closely related, most anti spyware software will also kill adware.  Because adware and spyware are so prevalent on the internet these days, and because adware spyware and spyware can pose a great security threat, our recommendation is to purchase and install a good anti spyware - anti adware program for every computer that is used on the internet.  Just as most people would never use a computer without anti virus software installed, you shouldn't use an internet-connected computer without anti adware/anti spyware software protecting you.  Spyware adware and computer viruses are not the same thing, so you really need protection from both types of threats.

Common Adware Applications and Symptoms of adware

There are hundreds of adware applications that exist today.  Some common ones are Claria, CoolWWW, AltNet, 180SearchAssistant, ShopAtHomeAgent, Istbar, Gator, WhenUSearch, and BonsaiBuddy - just to name a few.

You will know you have adware on your system if you see a lot of pop up ads and banners, and cannot seem to turn them off.  Sometimes your browser will even take you to websites you don't want to go to (called browser hijacking), or your home page will be reset to some strange website you've never heard of.  These are common symptoms of adware.  The more adware apps you have on your system, the more frequent and annoying these advertising methods get.  Unfortunately, spyware usually goes along with adware (although it may not have been installed by the same source), and most people who run a spyware/adware scan will notice lots of spyware in addition to adware on their PC's. 

Adware Removers - Be Careful Where You Get Them

There are hundreds of companies offering adware removal software, all promising to have the best or cheapest software for detecting and killing adware.  Many anti adware products being advertised via spam email and on the web are actually spyware and adware applications disguised as an adware remover or spyware remover product.  Many of these websites will offer you a free adware scan or free adware product, which is either a scam or suspect software.  When using this questionable software, many are programmed to give you a "false positive" result, indicating that you have adware or spyware on your PC when in fact you don't.

Before purchasing or downloading any adware remover, it is wise to check this website first - Spyware Warrior.  Spyware Warrior maintains an up to date list of all websites and companies that are either scamming victims into downloading spyware or the software they are offering is suspected of being spyware or adware-ridden. Many popular adware removers such as adware sheriff, starware adware, adware punisher, etc... are on this "caution list" for one reason or another. It is wise to stay away from suspicious anti adware products altogether, and use adware removal software from large, reputable companies. 

Recommended Adware Removers

Following are some recommended anti adware/anti spyware products.  Most of these products can also be found on our Spyware Removers page.