Has there been some time recently you were enjoying the Internet only to be asked if you would like to place a bet on next year's World Series? Or maybe to buy a timeshare condominium in south Florida, or even a $2000 chair massager? Have you ever had half a dozen popups block your use of a web page, and not be able to turn them off? If any situation like this has ever happened to you, then you know full well what it is like to have adware infect your computer. Adware blocks your enjoyment of the net and slows down PC performance to a crawl. Worse, it can even be an early warning of still worse things to come. Wherever there is adware, spyware and viruses are likely soon to follow. Some spyware might only report back to some software vendor how you are using their program. But other spyware might also email your credit card numbers to a criminal's office half way around the world. Viruses and worms can destroy your computer altogether. Even if you avoid the very worst damage these most common types of malware can do to your home computer, the odds are high your hard drive will slow down to a crawl for even the simplest of applications.

That's the reason most computer users try to block adware downloads 100% of the time. Most computer users get programs that blast every trace of adware from their hard drives. There is no shortage of programs to do this, but how do you tell which one is best? How can you be sure you will never have to deal with adware ever again? These are critical questions to ask and hard questions to answer.

Adware blockers need to do three things. First of all, they have to be up to date with every definition of every adware invader lurking on the World Wide Web. The software vendor must provide regularly updated libraries of definitions. What is a "regular" update? If your software is a week behind the adware programmers it is not going to do you a whole lot of good.

Second, adware blockers need to be able to do their work without ever needing a prompt from you. They should be set to scan your hard drive on a regular schedule even if you do not click on a manual "scan now" button. Every anti-adware program has to run 24/7/365. To keep your computer safe, it must scan every file you download and every single email you open.

Third and finally, effective adware programs should be integrated with your web browser. This is the only way these programs can protect you in real time. Their list of questionable sites has to be updated constantly. You want a program that will protect you from adware before it ever strikes your PC.

It is not as difficult as one might think to keep adware off your computer. Purchase an adware prevention program that keeps its definitions up to the minute, stops you from landing on problem websites, and checks any file that downloads into your computer. Purchase software that accurately analyzes your hard drive without your having click for a manual scan. With the most effective software, annoying popups that hinder your enjoyment of the World Wide Web and slow performance on your PC soon will become a distant memory.