Adware changes your internet settings, search results and can ruin a routine web surf. Here's what you need to know to remove adware.

Until about 2006, makers of antivirus software weren't focusing on a burgeoning trend called Adware which was spreading like a locust. At the time there were a couple of free removers such as Spybot and Adaware that focused purely on blocking pop up ads, detecting adware and removing the files from your PC. Though touted as free, the software typically required payment to remove the adware and henceforth sprung several hundred adware removers of varying quality.

By 2006 the virus removers had improved their product offering to include very effective spyware and adware removal and detection. Now the traditional antivirus removal companies - in particular Symantec with it's Norton range - are streets ahead of the older adware specialists. For instance, longstanding adware remover Spybot Search & Destroy updates its list of detected viruses approximately once a week. Norton Antivirus 2009 detects approximately 250-300 per day.

Adware is a type of spyware that displays banners or pop up ads and/or redirects pages that you are searching for to pages which make the adware creator money from advertising. There are several thousand adware programs detected by antivirus companies. For instance you may do a Google search and see strange ads down the side of the page or you may be trying to even go to Google and you are being redirected to another phony website. These examples of adware are the end result of you downloading a product that extracts from you a permission to also display advertising to you.

You probably never even know that you are giving your endorsement, it's usually beyond the "fine print" lawyers talk about and more like "hidden print". The rule to follow is that if the download is free and it gives you lots of valuable goods for free (particularly peer to peer software), then there is a good chance there will be adware. Your best precaution is to search the internet and find if anyone can vouch for the download's authenticity and also ensure you are protected with antivirus software. Having antivirus installed will prevent adware ads from showing in the first place.

Norton's adware removers are all discounted:

Norton Antivirus 2009	Norton Internet Security 2009	Norton 360