One of the greatest threats to you, as an Internet user, is unwittingly downloading adware or spyware to your computer.

Adware and spyware are both varieties of software that compromise your privacy and anonymity. Adware is probably the lesser of the two evils. It includes pop-ups and unwanted toolbars and search bars that integrate into your browser and display advertising. Spyware, on the other hand, is designed to track your web usage, uncover your personal details, and send this information to marketing companies. And, of course, there are types of software that are both adware and spyware.

Should you be concerned about adware or spyware? If you use the Internet, the answer is "yes". Unless you take defensive measures, sooner or later you will be confronted by pop-ups... asked to download seemingly helpful "tool bars" that really track your every movement on the Net... discover unauthorized websites attempting to add themselves to your desktop icons or the website "favorites" in your web browser... have your home page settings hijacked so you can't even change them... and even have your personal information collected and sold.

And even if you don't object to companies attempting to market to you... some of the software you can unknowingly download is better described as "malware". Malware is malicious software designed to damage your computer or steal your identity. As the growing problem of identity theft proves, the risk of downloading such software should not to be taken lightly.

And that's not to mention having all this adware and spyware take up space on your hard disk and impede the performance of your computer!

The good news is that many software vendors have created programs to remove adware and spyware from your computer. As with other kinds of software, the quality and features vary from adware / spyware removal program to adware / spyware removal program. However, they generally all include the capacity to scan your hard disk for adware or spyware and to remove any such programs found.

Some adware and spyware removal programs also include features such as the ability to block pop-ups when you visit websites. Many automatically send updates to you so that the adware / spyware removal program is able to protect you against all the current threats. Most vendors also allow you to download a free trial version of their software which you can subsequently upgrade by paying a licence fee.

Installing and activating one of these adware and spyware removal programs is generally straightforward. After downloading the set up file, you simply activate it and install the program. Once it's installed you can then select the available scan options and start scanning and, if necessary, removing any offensive programs.

If you haven't used or installed any adware and spyware removal programs I urge you to do so. For all you know, there could already be harmful software already residing on your computer. And with free trial versions available, there's no reason not to perform a scan as soon as possible. It's certainly better to be safe rather that sorry!