There are many different types of anti-adware software available to consumers, and most are available free of charge. In fact, many of the world's most popular browsers include anti-adware software that does a good job of blocking these types of silent installations. Even the best of them will occasionally let some unwanted spam slip through, however, which is why adware scanners are such an important feature. These programs can be programmed to run automatically in the background just like anti-virus software to stop threats in real time. Another popular choice for anti-adware software is a registry cleaner; it erases the tracks of unwanted programs so it will not slow the computer's startup process.
The first line of defense against adware is the actual browser that is used for surfing the Internet. Browsers are designed to collect tiny bits of information called cookies that allow the computer to remember information about the user's favorite websites. Adware will attempt to use these cookies to build a profile about each computer and what that user is likely to buy, and then it uses the information to create banners that would likely attract the user. Some of the newer Internet browsers have the option to search the web anonymously or to restrict websites from storing cookies in a way that it could be used for advertising, and by enabling these anti-adware features, much of the adware can be eliminated.
Most browsers aren't 100% secure, however, so eventually almost every computer system will accumulate unwanted junk programs. This is where anti-adware software programs come in, because they are designed to seek out these types of annoyances and delete them permanently. There are dozens of these types of programs available for download across the Internet, and many can be programmed to run at regular intervals or to even scan in real time to keep users protected. Another option to look for in this type of anti-adware software is an automatic update feature since businesses release new adware programs frequently.
Deleting various forms of adware is not always enough to keep computers healthy because traces of them may be left within the computer's registry. While these traces do not really harm the computer, the processor has to read through these non-existent files at every startup; in time, thousands of erroneous entries can build up. Registry cleaners prevent these performance issues by removing any forms of adware from the boot sector so that they will not load automatically. Not only does this free up RAM, but it also makes it easier for other programs to load and function correctly.