Ad-ware and spyware are actual software programs which have been installed onto your computer. These programs then constantly run on your computer, tracking your internet surfing habits. Ad-ware programs will use this information to generate advertising ads on your computer, either in your active browser window or in a new pop-up window. Spyware programs will send information on your surfing habits back to the company which installed the software on your computer to use for marketing purposes.

The major concern here is two-fold. Firstly, this type of software is generally installed onto your computer without your consent, either coming packaged with another software program completely unrelated, or tricking you into believing it is something else and downloading automatically through your browser.

This software which you did not want is now permanently on your computer and sending off information to God knows where. Secondly, it is using up your internet bandwidth and your computer’s resources on a constant basis. Some spyware programs can seriously effect your ability to operate your computer by slowing your computer and internet down by using up its resources.

The only way to deal with these programs is to get rid of them. The best way to do this is with an anti-spyware program, such as Yahoo! Anti-Spy. You can also look in the Add/Remove Programs in your Control Panel, however oftentimes these programs are able to hide themselves and you won’t be able to find them manually. A spyware program is designed to root out these sorts of programs and get rid of them permanently.

Before getting to that point, however, you should always be very careful before downloading anything online. Look at the software you are downloading, and make sure you are only downloading the software that you want. If you go to a web site and a window pops up asking you to authorize a download of some software, read very carefully what is being downloaded. Quite possibly it is nothing good for your computer but only an ad-ware or spyware program seeking to be installed.