How to Get Rid of Unwanted Tracking Bugs on Your Computer

Tracking bugs, unlike viruses, are often hard to notice.

While browsing the Internet, you might unsuspectingly receive tracking bugs, also called adware, onto your computer. These tracking bugs are often undetectable during normal computer use. Their purpose is to quietly gather information of your online activities in order to target you with specific advertisements. One major sign that your computer may be affected with tracking bugs is if it becomes slower than normal, especially during online browsing.

Instructions

1. Open your web browser and use a search engine to find an antivirus program. Some popular programs that specialize in removing tracking bugs are Ad-Aware and Spybot, which provide free versions.

2. Customize the settings of the antivirus program once it is installed. Antivirus programs typically will provide options such as which folders to search for problems and what to do once it finds problems on your computer.

3. Click the "Scan" button on your antivirus program and let it run through the folders that you have designated. While it is scanning, it is best not to use your computer, since this will slow down the scan.

4. Click the "Remove" button once your antivirus program is done scanning and has presented a list of problems detected on your computer. This will make your antivirus program quarantine or permanently delete the tracking bugs, depending on what settings you have used.

Tips & Warnings

• Scan your computer regularly, since tracking bugs are often well hidden and undetectable. A scan may turn up tracking bugs that gather your information and will also increase the speed of your computer once they are removed.

References

• Webopedia: Adware

Resources

• CNET: Spybot: Search & Destroy