It is estimated that 90% of all computers are infected with some form of adware. These intrusive hidden applications can range anywhere from simple cookie placement to out right malicious viral programs that can be used to steal your identity online and access your personal information such as bank account numbers, passwords, credit card information and even pictures. Adware slows your computer down to a standstill, and with the new onslaught of hijack viruses, is as important as ever. The solution is to run a spyware detection program that can effectively find and remove all known sources of adware from your system. The best programs are not only effective repair utilities, but also are proactive in their approach to protecting your system from future infection.
All images, designs, content and concepts are the exclusive rights of Consumer Review. No portion of this website or the content contained herein may be reproduced, rebroadcast or distributed without the expressed written permission of the rights holder. All rights reserved. Copyright 2000 / 2004
Protect your computer from malicious spyware infections and attacks as well as guard against identity theft. Learn more about how to protect yourself.
Adware Detection and Removal Software Titles
The Importance of Using Anti Adware Software
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
90 Days
19.95
27.95
29.95
34.95
34.95
26.95
29.95
34.95
Top Three Sites We Reviewed
SpyShield is the most powerful of the adware software utilities we tested. The simple to use, feature packed program uncovered several malicious spyware programs the other suites failed to find, and comes with effective hijacking protection. The suite includes automatic updates as well as a complete restore feature that prevents damaging of your system when the spyware is removed. Very professional site and 24/7 support.
Overall Rating A+++ Ease of Use A++ Features A++ Free Scan Yes Price $25.99
Adware Alert safely scans and removes spyware as well as provides pop up protection. Professional website, but no direct contact information which was a flaw in our ranking. The software worked as billed, and was the 2nd best utility we used for detection next to the SpyShield suite.
Alert Spy is a feature rich spyware detection and removal utility that removed all common spyware but missed two trojan worms on the system we tested it on. Professional website design and an easy to use interface. Contact email provided with a Monday to Friday support center with a 48 hour reply promise. A strong spyware solution that works as billed.
Adware is usually installed on your computer without your knowledge and up until recently was typically bundled with free software downloads. As adware has become more advanced, and subsequently malicious, spyware and adware developers have also become more skilled at getting these programs installed on your computer despite firewalls and internet security settings on your browser. The new term is called DRIVE BY adware, which by passes your settings and installs itself on your computer the moment you visit a site where the application is installed.
In addition, a new form of adware has merged with what is similar to a virus and is called a hijacker. The term hijacker used to refer to the simple resetting of your home page, but in recent months, a new form of the hijacker virus has become much more of a threat and installs itself deep into your registry. From here, it basically takes over your internet connection and forces you to see sites that are usually spam related such as pornographic sites and gambling sites. Once infected, these applications are very hard to remove and usually require the services of a technician.
To See an Expanded List of our Reviewed Categories, Click Here.
Stopping Computer Identity Theft from Your Computer
Adware used to be a simple annoyance that bothered computer users out of principle that advertisers were tracking their movements. This type of adware is as simple as cookie placement which typically uses a small code to identify if you have been to the site before. As adware progressed, it has become much more malicious in nature. Where commercial adware programs simply work in the back ground, worms, trojans and hijack viruses all can wreak total havoc on your computer and make you extremely vulnerable to identity theft.
The more malicious adware applications work to ferret out your personal information such as credit card numbers and bank account login info as well as open ports on ports on your system called back doors so hackers can by pass your firewall and gain control of your computer. This of course can lead to identify theft and the draining of your savings and unauthorized use of your credit card. Many users make the mistake of thinking this is a small, relatively isolated problem which could not be farther from the truth. Identify fraud is a huge global issue and you need to protect your computer and yourself if you have not already done so. The cost for protection is usually under $40 which is less than one hour of repair time by a computer technician and a lot less than could be taken from your bank account and credit cards. .
The better adware protection programs effectively work to protect your system from removing programs that are currently operating on your system, but also to prevent any new programs from installing themselves without your knowledge. Our test results of the top 8 programs were varied and we preferred the SpyShield application for the most effective protection against the threat of spyware and identity theft.
Our objective in determining the top adware software titles was two fold. First, we wanted a title that thoroughly identified and removed all spyware, worms, hijackers and trojans while also provided on going protection from future infection. This is a main area of rating importance.
Adware software scans your entire hard drive and operating system to identify what is called definitions or foot prints of known spyware / adware applications - of which there are more than 90,000 such ids on the internet. Once a footprint is identified, the software sets about removing the spyware component. This is the second main area of rating because of the importance of the software being able to SAFELY remove the adware application without doing damage to the operating system of your computer. This is likely the biggest difference between the basic programs and the more advanced protection utilities.
Finally, we looked for adware removal applications that came with regular updates for future spyware applications. The top software utilities continually update themselves to keep you protected 24/7.
In review, we believe it is essential that every PC user have some form of adware protection software on their computer. Computers are a significant investment and a quality spyware removal suite can protect your computer from identity theft.
Overall Rating A+ Ease of Use A+ Features A+ Free Scan Yes Price $27.95
Overall Rating A++ Ease of Use A+ Features A+ Free Scan Yes Price $29.95
Payday loans are a growing service on the internet. With literally hundreds of companies offering fast loan services, we show you who you should choose, and who to stay away from.
If your computer is running slow, or crashes frequently, chances are your registry has errors on it that need to be repaired. We review the top repair program on the market today.
Investigate all the claims about getting paid to take surveys online with our new report on paid survey companies.
