How to Remove Spyware and Viruses; Jumpstart Your Computer for Free.

Viruses and malware find their way onto your computer no matter how tech savvy or careful you are. There are many ways to help protect yourself with safer web browsing habits and active shielding programs, but what happens when something gets through?

In this hub we will learn about these infections, tips on how to avoid them, how to remove them, and cleaning up your computer properly to increase performance; all without spending a dime.

Malware simply put is software designed to harm. It comes in a plethora of forms.

Spyware monitors the actions you take, the websites you visit, and gathers your information via keylogging, system monitoring, or cookies.

Adware revolves around serving you ads, cluttering your desktop with pop-ups, and annoying you at every turn.

Trojans can be installed along with legitimate software which could add a backdoor to your system allowing future connections to be established with a hacker group.

You should only download programs from reputable websites. Avoid download managers such as iLivid and extra toolbars for your browser that sometimes solicit installs.

Before clicking on a link it's always a good idea to mouse over it and see what the actual destination is before you click it. This is a good way of revealing the correct download link on a page for example.

Several popular anti-virus programs have struck deals with the major ISPs.

Comcast customers are provided with Norton Antivirus for free. Time Warner and AOL customers get free access to McAfee.

If your ISP doesn't provide you with virus protection there are solid free alternatives. I recommend AVG as it offers real time protection with an easy-to-use modern interface.

If you want to buy the Norton 360 Suite at 75% off retail you can cover up to three pcs for $24.35 (or one for $19.27). It is the #1 best seller in Amazon's internet security category.

Another popular program is Kasperskpy. If a virus clings on for life, Kasperskpy offers powerful virus removal solutions.

With virus protection running in real time you will have over 95% of viruses hidden in downloads blocked as they come in. Anti-virus libraries update frequently and a scanner runs in the background that will notify you if anything was missed and offer a removal/quarantine choices.

Even still, malware can seep through the cracks of your anti-virus programs. It is strongly advised to run a malware scan once every month or immediately if you notice any strange activity. Malwarebytes offers fast, reliable scans and easy removals. The free version works great and cleans up millions of infections popular anti-virus programs miss.

When you unboxed your computer you might have fond memories of snappy responsiveness and shorter boot times.

Piriform's Ccleaner is the ultimate tool to speed up your computer and clean up your hard disk. Best of all it's free.

Ccleaner will scan your registry for keys that were left behind when you uninstalled old programs; it will clean your temporary files, cookies, and cache from each of your browsers, and more. Run Ccleaner once a month and restore the speed your computer was meant to have.

Hackers have infected millions of computers creating powerful botnets. They have been used to siphon over $500 million from bank accounts, steal identities, and rob people of their freedoms. If you don't take the time to protect your computer, you could be their next victim.

Protect yourself.

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