Understanding Potentially Unwanted Programs

Typically, potentially unwanted programs, such as spyware, adware, and suspect programs, get installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent. They may be part of a program that you installed or they may install themselves as you visit various Web sites. The following information is not meant to be a complete discussion of all online threats. We hope that it will acquaint you with some of the potentially unwanted programs that Spy Sweeper can address for you.

Potentially unwanted programs are any applications that make potentially unwanted changes to your computer, while collecting information about your computer activities. This information may then be sent to a third party for malicious purposes, without your knowledge or consent. Potentially unwanted programs arrive bundled with freeware or shareware, through e-mail, by someone with access to your computer, or by another means without your consent. Unlike traditional personalization or session cookies, potentially unwanted programs are difficult to detect, and difficult (if not impossible) for the average user to remove.

You can set up Spy Sweeper to detect and remove potentially unwanted programs. However, in some cases, the program that installed the potentially unwanted program may not work without the potentially unwanted program installed. You should test your programs before deleting items permanently.