How to Remove Adware on Windows PC

If you keep getting pop-ups, ads on sites where they shouldn’t be, or fake tech support scams, you probably have Adware on your computer. Adware programs are getting harder and harder to get rid of, Remove Adware on Windows PC.

Adware has always been a problem, but in the past, it was easy to get rid of these programs because they only showed a few pop-up ads here and there or ads within their own programs. Adware is a program, and when you run a program, it automatically shows unwanted ads. When you get a pop-up, you might see ads made by adware.

This is annoying because it can make a lot of pop-ups. Also, this can pose a security risk because it comes with some bad programs. Some other threats, like viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and so on, also show up. They could steal information, delete it, and watch what you do.

Steps to Remove Adware on Windows PC

1. Uninstall suspicious programs.
2. Go to the Control Panel on your computer and find the option Uninstall a program. If you don’t see it, click View by: and select Category. Look for any programs that you don’t recognize and uninstall them.
3. Clean your browser
4. Open your web browser and go to the settings or extensions menu. Look for any extensions that you don’t recognize or that seem suspicious, and remove them.
5. Go to Settings, find Reset and clean up =>Clean up computer and click Find to start scanning your computer for harmful apps and programs. 
6. Find hidden unwanted services in System Configuration.
7. Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig in the Run dialog box, and hit Enter. 
8. Go to the Services tab, and check the box of Hide all Microsoft services.
9. Uncheck the services you don’t recognize, and click Apply and OK.

Remove Adware Using Third-Party Software

1. Before you start, make sure you have a backup of all your important files. Better use an external hard drive or a safe cloud-based service.
2. Download and install a reputable anti-malware tool. 
3. Open the anti-malware tool and perform a full system scan. This may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of files on your computer.
4. Once the scan is complete, review the results to see if any adware or other malware has been detected.
5. Select the option to remove any adware or malware that has been detected. Follow the prompts to complete the removal process.
6. Once the removal process is complete, restart your computer and perform another scan to ensure all adware traces have been removed.
7. Finally, verify that your files are still intact and have not been affected by the adware. This is very unlikely, but it never hurts to be sure.

What Is Adware?

Adware is software that you don’t want that puts ads on your screen, usually in your web browser. These ads will cover up the page’s content, and if you click on a link, it will just bring up another ad in a pop-up window.

When adware shows ads, it may do so in pop-up windows, directly on a web page you are viewing, or as videos, banners, moving ads, or as something folded down in the top right corner of the website. Also, you might see new tabs open, your homepage change, results from a search engine you’ve never heard of, or even a redirect to a website that isn’t safe for work.