The Risk

Now, another security risk is ad-ware. Ad-ware is often related to pop-ups. Ad-ware is software that will attempt to install itself onto your computer. Sometimes it will ask you if you want it (rarely) but most of the time it will automatically do it. The software it installs is just advertisement type stuff, or sometimes it can be stupid games. Now the problem with ad-ware is that when it gets itself onto your computer, it will cause more pop-ups and advertisements to occur.

The Solution

For ad-ware, you can download programs that search your hard-drive for specific files related to ad-ware. Two such programs that are free are Spy-bot and Ad-Aware. Each program targets different types of files, and after locating them, it will give you the option of deleting them or putting a quarantine on them. The quarantine option is for programs that you have to keep for some reason, so it leaves it there, but makes sure it doesn't cause trouble. Rarely will the average PC user use this. 98% of ad-ware is not needed for any reason and should be deleted.