What are some potential problems of having Adware/Spyware installed on my system?
Adware and Spyware often execute on startup, causing your system to be slow booting or shutting down or causing it to “hang” upon startup or shutdown. Having these programs installed in memory can also result in slow and/or reduced system performance. Some programs also have the ability to change your web browser’s home page and also pop up ads on webpages that normally do not have any ads. Spyware can install dialup programs that may replace your dialup Internet connection. In extreme cases, certain Adware/Spyware can also corrupt your network drivers and affect your ability to connect to the Internet and/or compromise your Windows operating system. At best, spyware and adware annoy you with pop-ups and slow your system. At worst, they irreparably damage your system requiring you to re-install your operating system.
