Beware of Adware!

Here’s what happens. You decide to go online and open your laptop. You click on the browser icon on your desktop. Instead of seeing your homepage, pop-ups attack you left and right. You hear all kinds of loud dings and alerts going off. No matter how fast you hit the exit or “escape” buttons,, those pop-ups just keep flying at you.

If this sounds familiar, then you have definitely experienced how annoying adware can be. It stands for “advertising supported software”, and it’s a lot like the fly that buzzes around your face while eating a delicious sandwich. How? Well, just like the fly is attracted to your food and gets energy from eating those breadcrumbs, those irritating ads are there to force you into clicking on them so they can make money when you accidentally visit their equally annoying websites. If you want to keep away from, it is important to understand the importance of an adware removal tool.

How Does Adware Work?

Adware is designed to fill your screen with endless advertisements. If you have not experienced this, you may think it will never happen to you. You would be wrong! This can happen to even the most well-seasoned Web surfer. This malicious software is continually being refined by its evil overlords to seem perfectly harmless when it sneaks up on you. The fact that some advertisements are perfectly safe and are promoted by legitimate companies also cause more confusion to some users.

When an attack does happen, you are most likely clicking on a link that looks normal. You could even be downloading a file from a favorite website that never gave you any problems before. This malicious software fools you into thinking there is no reason to suspect foul play, and by the time you click it it’s already too late. You have just installed an adware app and it has no intentions of taking a vacation anytime soon. Yikes!

This is when the real trouble begins. At this point, you are panicking and ready to throw your hands up in defeat. It looks like a deck of cards is being thrown up onto your screen with no signs of stopping. Once this nasty bug has installed itself, you will start to notice some signs of infestation. Examples of what you may come across include the all-too-popular “Claim your $1,000,000,000.00 prize now!” or “Lose 50 pounds in 2 days!” There is no lack of creativity in these ridiculous ads, and you can be 100% sure that they will pop up automatically.

Other strange side effects include new tabs opening up by themselves or even your home page no longer being the one you chose for your browser. Depending on the type of malicious software you have, your browser may start showing ads based on your location or the kinds of websites you visit. This can happen on any browser or device. Whatever form the infestation takes, it will always annoy you with these unwanted symptoms.

The following is a full list of signs to look for when you suspect your device is infected:

• Advertisements show up in places they normally would not.
• Loading anything takes forever.
• The websites you visit no longer display correctly.
• Links take you to strange websites that look nothing like what you actually clicked on.
• The browser on your device constantly crashes.
• The homepage on your browser changes without permission.
• Weird toolbars, plugins or extensions have installed themselves onto your browser.

Why Me?

Authors of adware for Mac or Windows machines are in the market of fooling your average Internet user as opposed to going after any businesses. They look for any opportunity to frustrate users on any device with Internet access. Special sales, free cruise trips, and other over-the-top promises reel in unsuspecting victims. The possibilities are endless!

The Benefits of Adware Removal Software

Now that you know that your device has adware, you may be wondering if there is any hope of removing it permanently. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem, and it’s actually a pretty easy fix.

If you are a PC or Mac user, you will need to take several steps before enlisting the help of an adware remover. Make sure to always back up any files you have saved on your computer in case an attack should happen. You can eliminate adware for Mac or Windows by finding the file folder for the application it has attached itself to and deleting it. This can be difficult if you do not know the name of the infiltrating program. This is where adware removal software enters the picture.

You will find a large number of reliable and free adware remover apps online that are tailored to protect your specific device. These programs are designed to scan your device for any hiding malware and to destroy them. Just click “scan” and let the program do all of the hard work for you. That’s all there is to it!

Remember to be safe when browsing and always think twice before you click on any link or software. Knowledge is power, and now you know all there is to know about living a spam-free life. The Internet has so much for you to explore, so have fun and stay safe!