How to Remove Dialers

A dialer is a type of spyware that connects to a remote number without your knowledge, often costing you money and corrupting your system. This guide will cover ways to remove fraudulent dialers from your computer. There are several free tools available to detect and remove dialer spyware from your computer. This guide will cover the popular tool called Ad-Aware, which can be freely downloaded.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows PC

Tools to Remove Dialers

1. 

   Go to http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php to read about the software, then click "Download." Note: Never download software unless you trust the source. Ad-Aware is a tool made by Lavasoft, a leader in anti-spyware since 1999.

2. 

   Press "Save" and download the file to a location on your computer. When the download is complete, open the file.

3. 

   On the install screen, select your language and accept the license agreement. Click "Install."

4. 

   Press "Finish." Ad-Aware may restart your computer to complete the installation. Once it has restarted, open the newly installed Ad-Aware program from the Start Menu.

Finding and Removing Dialers

5. 

   Once Ad-Aware is installed and running, begin scanning your computer by clicking the "Scan System" icon.

6. 

   Choose either a Smart Scan or Full Scan. A Smart Scan is faster but not as thorough, while a Full Scan covers all areas of your computer. When ready, press "Scan Now."

7. 

   After the scan completes, a list of all dialers and other spyware found on your system will be displayed. Ad-Aware will automatically choose a recommended action for each item. Press "Perform Actions Now" to remove the spyware.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to deal with dialers and other spyware is to avoid having your computer infected in the first place. Never download or install programs unless you trust the source. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware tools often to keep your system clean.