As spyware becomes more prevalent on today’s computers, it is more important than ever to have the best protection available against these malicious files. One of the best lines of defense against spyware is the program Adaware. Follow these steps to download, install and use this helpful utility.
Adaware is available for free at download.com. Visit the site and save the installation file to your desktop. If you are not currently experiencing problems with your computer, installing and running this program will help keep your system in shape. If you think you already have spyware, install and run the program in safe mode (restart your computer and tap “F8” until you enter this mode).
Installing Adaware is no different than most other programs: You must agree to the developer’s terms of use and advance through the screens entering a few pieces of personal information. For now, choose to do the standard installation and use the free version of the utility.
Adaware will launch automatically after installation. If you are in safe mode, scan your computer immediately. If not, the first thing you should do is check for program updates. When you are ready to run a system scan, choose the “Full Scan” option. Do not exit out of the scan early, as many spyware infections are found at the end of the process. Delete any infected files found by Adaware.
Make sure you update Adaware every week or 2, as the free version of the program does not do this automatically. Spyware are more common than viruses, so it is important that you scan frequently.
For more information about spyware and virus removal, visit Be Your Own IT’s online support forum and YouTube channel. Make sure to e-mail Jeremy from Be Your Own IT if you have a computer help question we haven’t addressed yet.
