Viruses are sometimes confused with worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself automatically to other computers through networks, while a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but hides malicious functions. Worms and Trojan horses, like viruses, may harm a computer system's data or performance. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious or simply do nothing to call attention to themselves. Some viruses do nothing beyond reproducing themselves.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2012
Award winning protection to meet your basic security needs!

• Get online and offline protection from viruses, spyware, and other nasties

• Enjoy consistently high-speed PC performance with our new enhanced virus scanner

• Automatic updates keep your protection current

• Compatible with Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2000

 Anti-Spyware, Anti-Malware & Anti-Adware Programs

Spyware is a type of malware that is installed on computers and collects little bits of information at a time about users without their knowledge.  Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the computer without the user's approval or knowledge during the installation of a shareware or freeware program.  Spyware programs can collect different types of personal information, such as internet sites that have been visited so they can specialize marketing to each user on a computer.  Some spyware can interfere with other functions such as installing additional software and redirecting Web browser activity. Spyware is known to change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, home pages changes, and/or loss of Internet or functionality of other programs.

Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.

Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware, most rootkits, and other malicious and unwanted software.  Malware is not the same as defective software, that is, software that has a legitimate purpose but contains harmful bugs. 

The following are two programs that will help in removing and identifying spyware on your computer.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Malwarebytes is an easy-to-use, simple, and effective anti-malware application. Whether you know it or not your computer is always at risk of becoming infected with viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and malware that are constantly evolving and becoming harder to detect and remove. Only the most sophisticated anti-malware techniques can detect and remove these malicious programs from your computer.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is considered to be the next step in the detection and removal of malware. In our product we have compiled a number of new technologies that are designed to quickly detect, destroy, and prevent malware. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove malware that even the most well known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to detect.

Key Features

• Support for Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and 7 (32-bit and 64-bit).

• Light speed quick scanning.

• Ability to perform full scans for all drives.

• Database updates released daily.

• Quarantine to hold threats and restore them at your convenience.

• Ignore list for both the scanner and Protection Module.

• Settings to enhance your Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware performance.

• A small list of extra utilities to help remove malware manually.

• Works together with other anti-malware utilities.

• Context menu integration to scan files on demand

 

for step by step instructions for using MalwareByte's Anti-Malware Program

to Download the latest version of the MalwareByte's Anti-Malware Program

Spybot - Search & Destroy©® 1.6.2

 Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.

 for step by step instructions for using Spybot - Search & Destroy Program

 to Download the latest version of the Spybot - Search & Destroy Program

 

The Belarc Advisor displays a detailed profile of your installed software, hardware and vulnerabilities in your Web browser.

Belarc's products are in use on well over twenty million computers and are licensed by numerous customers including: AIG, Dana, Kindred Healthcare, NASA, National Park Service, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Unilever, WebMD/Emdeon, and many more.

 for step by step instructions for using Belarc Advisor Program

 to Download the latest version of the Belarc Advisor Program