Adware removal

Photo via Malcolm Tredinnick/Flickr (CC-BY) Remix by Jason Reed

The 4 best antivirus apps to keep your computer adware free

A good adware removal tool will keep your Mac or PC running its best.

 

Ben Dickson

Tech

Posted on Aug 22, 2017   Updated on May 22, 2021, 7:50 pm CDT

If you’re seeing irritating ads pop-up in your browser, your homepage has been changed to some strange search engine, or your computer is suddenly slow, you’ve been targeted by adware.

Adware is software that uses shady methods to show unwanted advertisements. Aside from being annoying, adware isn’t evil per se. It’s meant to earn money for companies that offer their services and applications for free. But the way they operate is dangerous and can leave you vulnerable to harmful activity such as malvertising—malware embedded in ads—or spyware, which are programs that track your activities and collect your personal information.

Most antivirus solutions have measures to block ads, but some types of adware are too hard to detect and remove because they function as legitimate software. Below are some of the tools that are effective against the more complicated kinds of adware.

The best free adware removal tools

1) Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool

Bitdefender Adware Removal is a free tool that is available for both PC and Mac. It scans various parts of your computer to find hidden adware programs. Adware Removal reviews toolbars, extensions, and apps installed in your Chrome and Firefox browsers, and it actively monitors your system for the presence of keyloggers, malicious software that sends your keystrokes to remote servers. Bitdefender Adware Removal comes bundled with the Bitdefender antivirus.

2) Adaware Free Antivirus+

free adware removal : Adaware Free Antivirus+ is one of the best ways to get ride of those annoying adware toolbars
Adaware Free Antivirus+ is one of the best ways to get ride of those annoying adware toolbars. Screenshot via Adaware

Adware Free Antivirus+ is an adware removal and antimalware solution. Antivirus+ scans your system for pre-installed adware and toolbars. Adaware helps remove the clutter caused by ads when browsing web pages. It also provides decent protection against the smarter kind of adware that conceals itself as legitimate software.

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3) Norton Power Eraser

adware removal : <span class=Norton Power Eraser will scrub adware and crimeware from your system. Screenshot via Symantec " class="wp-image-306690" src="https://www.dailydot.com/wp-content/uploads/c58/ef/0aacf9d7208068b3-607x400.jpg"/>
Norton Power Eraser will scrub adware and crimeware from your system. Screenshot via Symantec

Norton is a household name in protection software, and its adware removal tool lives up to its reputation. Power Eraser scans your system and eradicates malicious adware and crimeware that are deeply embedded and difficult to detect by other security tools. This includes programs that other tools might mark as legitimate. It also provides an easy-to-use undo feature to restore programs that might have been removed by mistake.

4) Malwarebytes AdwCleaner

Malwarebytes AdwCleaner will regularly check for new adware on your PC.
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner will regularly check for new adware on your PC.

AdwCleaner is an efficient tool that removes adware, annoying toolbars, and other sneaky programs that clutter your system and slow down its performance. AdwCleaner actively scans sites you visit and files you download for the potential presence adware and other harmful software that threaten your privacy and system. It also checks the Windows registry files for malicious software.

Ben Dickson is a software engineer and the founder of TechTalks. Follow his tweets at @bendee983 and his updates on Facebook.

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*First Published: Aug 22, 2017, 6:30 am CDT