Windows spam: How to remove annoying adware and annoying toolbars

Photo: Sean Gladwell, Fotolia

One moment of inattention and unwanted programs and toolbars have already nested on your Windows PC. Many of them cannot be removed without effort. At least not without the necessary know-how. How to remove adware and toolbars.

Everything is networked, in the digital age this trend affects all areas of life, sites such as allthingsdigital.de populate the web. But in the proclaimed digital high-tech everyday life, we sometimes struggle laboriously with age-old IT problems. Take adware, for example - spam software continues to drive Windows users to despair.

Adware is at least partly a side effect of open source programming: one of the - few - negative characteristics of open source and freeware programs is that anyone can modify them, pass them on and even earn money with them. Unscrupulous programmers take advantage of these characteristics. They insert new components into the installation routine of popular programs that abuse the browser for advertising purposes.

Annoying adware, annoying toolbars, desperate users

The so-called adware directs the user to predefined websites, sets up new start pages or bookmarks on its own authority or blocks the favorite search engine. In most cases, this unwanted browser behavior can only be removed by the user with great effort. Removing adware is sometimes very time-consuming or impossible without the right tools.

Annoying toolbars often nest in the browser. This may sound annoying, but it also harbors real dangers. This is because aggressive advertising networks, which often spy on personal data, sometimes act as string-pullers. The same applies here: stubborn toolbars cannot be removed at the click of a mouse, but only with special security tools.

What's more, the probability of catching adware is significantly higher than with malware such as viruses and Trojans. And once the spam software has been installed, the risk of other advertising programs being installed increases twofold.

That is why it is essential to act quickly at the first sign.

How adware gets onto the Windows PC

How do the adware troublemakers get onto the Windows computer? Three scenarios are typical:

1. When installing free programs: In most cases, adware gets onto the PC through carelessness, for example when installing free programs or updates. The developers earn some extra money this way. They rely on the fact that most users do not take a close look at the installation process and overlook the installation of additional programs. For this reason, it is advisable to look twice and, if necessary, remove the relevant checkmarks with a click.
2. When pirated copies are installed: Dangerous adware, on the other hand, usually gets onto the PC when pirated copies or corresponding cracking tools are installed.
3. Infected websites: A visit to a specially prepared website can also lead to adware spreading unnoticed on the computer. These so-called "browser hijackers" usually exploit security loopholes in the browser.

The latter two variants in particular are dangerous, as they nest secretly and cannot simply be removed from the system via the "Control Panel" and "Uninstall programs". In this case, special cleaning programs that can remove adware must be used.

Remove adware with Adwcleaner

1. Load the free program Adwcleaner. Then start the "adwcleaner.exe" file by double-clicking on it; installation is not necessary.
2. In the program, click on "Search", which causes the program to check the computer for adware. Adwcleaner then displays all hits.
3. Just click on "Delete" and hijackers such as adware are history. Then check whether the browser is working properly again.

Remove toolbars with "Anti-Toolbar"

If a browser bar cannot be deleted via the browser settings, try out "Anti-Toolbar. The program can remove the annoying toolbars and works with Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer.

Once started, the tool lists all the toolbars available in the three browsers. They can then be easily deactivated using the slider. They should then disappear the next time you start your browser.

Photo above: Sean Gladwell, Fotolia