Most everyone is aware of the dangers of computer viruses. Many people believe that spyware falls into the category of annoying but not dangerous. This couldn't be further from the truth. Spyware can be just as dangerous if not more so than run-of-the-mill computer viruses.

Spyware can run on a computer undetected and do all sorts of nasty things such as logging keystrokes (including passwords), tracking web surfing activity, harvesting personal information, and slowing your computer to a crawl.

Spyware's sidekick, known as AdWare can also be highly troublesome, redirecting your web searches and bombarding you with pop-up messages that seem to come out of nowhere.

Spyware also has an evil cousin named Scareware which wastes your time and can also cause you to spend money on software that is nothing more than the digital equivalent of snake oil.

Traditional virus scanners often don't detect these type of threats, a different kind of remedy is usually needed to get rid of these bad boys.

Here are some easy steps you can take to rid your computer of Spyware and AdWare:

1. Install a dedicated anti-spyware scanner
There are several great anti-spyware scanners on the market that can be used to detect and remove spyware. Microsoft's Security Essentials is a great scanner that is available for free. It detects spyware, adware. viruses, trojans, and rootkits. It is well supported by Microsoft and is one of the few free scanners that offer real-time protection and scheduling without requiring a paid upgrade.

Some other options include, Spybot Search and Destroy, and LavaSoft's AdAware SE. Try a couple and see what results they come up with.
2. Install a second opinion scanner
Not all scanners will catch everything on your system. You should always have a second line of defense in your anti-malware arsenal. Consider installing a second opinion scanner. There are several great second opinion scanners on the market. Some of the most recommended ones include MalwareBytes Anti-malware Scanner, and Surfright's HitMan Pro, a cloud-based second opinion malware scanner.
3. Turn on real-time spyware protection and scheduled scans
In order to detect threats before they infect your computer, you need to turn on the real-time active protection features of your anti-spyware. These features may consume some system resources, but will allow you to nip spyware in the bud before it becomes embedded in your file system and registry. You should also schedule a full system spyware / malware scan on a weekly basis. Set the scan to run at night so it won't interrupt your work or slow you down.
4. Check for and install system and anti-spyware updates
Spyware and anti-spyware developers are constantly playing cat and mouse which causes frequent updates to anti-spyware definitions You should always make sure that your operating system has the latest security patches. You should also turn on automatic updating on your anti-spyware software as well. Some anti-spyware have multiple spyware definition updates per day depending on the amount of spyware out in the wild.
5. If all else fails, consult an anti-malware expert
There is a site called Bleepingcomputer that offers help to people who believe that their computer is infected by spyware or other malware that has evaded all other scanners they have tried. Bleepingcomputer has a team of volunteers who help users diagnose and remove even the nastiest of malware. The process requires the participation of the user being helped to run commands and send results to the volunteer, but these guys really know what they are doing and will guide users to a solution no matter how long it takes.