How to use Spyware Blockers to Protect Your Computer

Spyware blockers are becoming more and more necessary every year. Many computer repair technicians will tell you that the majority of their business for home users involves the removal of viruses and what is known as malware, which refers to programs that get installed on the computer, in many cases without the user’s full knowledge and consent, for the purpose of monitoring browsing habits, delivering advertisements, or remotely making use of the consumer’s machine for other purposes. There are a variety of spyware blockers on the market, and several ways that they can be used to help protect your machine.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose among the spyware blockers available which one is best suited to your needs. There are dozens of them available, and each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. Ad Aware, Spybot, and Malwarebytes are some examples.

2. Install the selected program on your computer. In most cases, this is a very straightforward process involving a few clicks. If it asks if you want to enable any shield, protection, or immunization that runs all the time, be sure to enable that. Most spam blockers will also want to download the newest definitions and run an initial scan of the computer. Do both of these.

3. Make sure it is set to monitor any future software installations on your computer. A large portion of spyware is installed when it is bundled with other software, particularly free software and games that are downloaded.

4. Run periodic scans of your computer. Once in a while, something will slip through the running protection services and will need to be removed through a manual scan. Most spyware blockers will have the option of doing a quick scan or a deep scan. The deep scan takes longer, but is much more thorough.

5. Download the newest definitions frequently. Just like viruses, new spyware and adware is being written all the time. In order to ensure that your spyware blockers are as effective as possible, be sure to download the newest definitions frequently. Every few days is usually enough.

Tips & Warnings

• Slowness and frequent popups are common symptoms of a spyware infection
• Staying current with your operating system’s (ie. Windows) security updates will help block potential vulnerabilities.
• Running your computer as an administrator is not necessary unless you are making changes to hardware or installing programs. Consider creating a limited user for daily use.
• Spyware blockers do not protect from viruses in most cases. You will need separate software for that.