Adware is usually overlooked until it becomes a problem. Most people don’t even have a clue what adware is and when it invades their computer, it can only termed by multiple expletives, all of which cannot be used at this point in time. Let’s talk about BHO.alf adware for a moment, so you will know the correct terms to use if/when adware ever pays you a visit.

Adware is simply a software program or application that either you unknowingly install or it installs itself on your computer. The main points of entry for adware are through P2P file sharing programs such as Warez, KaZaa, and others. Adware is often bundled with free software, so as you are downloading your free software, you are also downloading adware. Once installed, adware runs in the background, logging your activities so it can create advertisements – pop ups ads and banners on your system.

Adware can sometimes trick you into downloading the software through other channels:

1. Computer games
2. Advanced search engines.
3. Emoticons
4. Smileys
5. Desktop themes and backgrounds
6. Applications to improve the speed of your PC

Not all contain adware, but to be on the safe side, you should never download any software applications from these pop ups advertisements. Once you have downloaded these programs, it may be difficult to get rid of them and even if you uninstall the software, they may still be lurking in the background.

Some adware can be a bit more troublesome. This type of adware can infiltrate your computer’s security system and delete critical files needed for your PC to perform correctly. This type of adware consumes your computers resources until it cannot perform any actions or worse, crash.

Prevention is the best cure for these potential threats. Making sure that your system is up to date and installing a good anti-spyware program will ward off the evil spirits. If you are not sure what program to choose, do some research before making your final decision. All spyware removal programs are not the same.