You may have to remove malware if your computer is crashing unexpectedly. Quick access to information on the Internet has made our lives easier, but it has also made life easier for criminals who use malware and spyware to steal personal information from your PC. Fortunately there are easy ways of ridding your home computer of this pernicious software.

What Are Malware and Spyware?
These programs can be viruses, advertising engines or programs created to crash your computer, steal personal information, erase files or keep spam flowing through your Internet connection. You can get malware or spyware simply by clicking a link in an e-mail, using an instant messenger or visiting a malicious site.

Major search engines now label some sites that may contain malware and browsers attempt to block it, but you still need to be careful where you click. Malware generally runs behind the scenes, so you may not even know it’s there. If you do identify it, the files are often tucked away in a hidden file or folder deep within your hard drive. Even if you locate the files, you can’t simply delete them. 

Clearing Out Malware
It's best to be proactive to stop malware from getting through. When you buy a new computer, install malware removers. These are anti-virus programs that remove malware and spyware. Norton AntiVirus is fairly reliable, as is SpySweeper. Make sure to update the software regularly and run weekly, scheduled sweeps of your hard drive as the number and veracity of computer viruses changes quickly. Once the sweep is complete, the anti-virus software should detect any malicious programs, allow you to review any suspect files and prevent them from installing.

If you've already got malware on your computer, there's still a way to get rid of it. Install an antivirus program and allow it to scan your system. For the best results, boot your computer in Safe Mode to prevent these programs from activating, as some of them can hide while they run. Scan your hard drive and remove any files that the software identifies as suspect. With the malware removed, your computer should once again be fast and reliable.