While the best defense against badware is to keep it off your computer altogether, you may find that despite your best efforts you’ve become “infected.” If you do find that your computer has been infected with badware, it is important to remove it as quickly as possible.

Many badware applications are specifically designed to be extremely difficult to remove. The use of normal removal procedures, such as “Add/Remove Programs,” is often ineffective. Even when you believe that you’ve successfully removed an unwanted software application, there may still be remnants that can continue to wreak havoc on your computer without your knowledge.

If you have already attempted to uninstall the software, and you believe the badware still remains, you should seek technical assistance. If you are using anti-virus or anti-spyware software and you have a current, paid subscription, you may be able to get assistance from the company that makes the software.

You may also find assistance in our online community, BadwareBusters.org, and in many other online communities and free forums provided by anti-virus/anti-spyware vendors. The help on these sites is often excellent, but as they are open to the public, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content you will find.

In order to effectively remove badware applications, we recommend the use of both anti-virus and anti-spyware applications. Most consumer computer users have some form of anti-virus protection already. Make sure yours is reputable and updated to best defend your machine against the latest threats.

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