Computer users today have different choices when it comes to dealing with spyware or malware infections. At the very simplest, a computer user can keep their computer updated as well as the antivirus and malware fighter programs updated and use a firewall to protect themselves. This is one step in problem solving to deal with what is a constant threat to computers everywhere. You can also decide to sandbox your browser in addition to the list above. What sandboxing does is allow a program to open in the browser only. This limits damage to the hard drive.

Having a strong firewall is another option that can be thought of. At the very worst end of the scale, the computer user will have to seek professional help if they did not do the above items or the infestation got bad enough that it caused the computer not to operate. This is where you would need to wipe the hard drive clean and start again with a clean drive and your computer software programs. While some of us would be able to do just that, sometimes even that may not be enough and a professional should be sought.

Special tools can be used to totally eradicate the virus or malware once the infestation has been found if the other methods do not work. Many professionals and even simple computer users may have access to tools like this. If all else fails, then a new computer may have to be sought if nothing will work to rid the infestation of malware.

In recent years, Windows based computers have been attacked more often than non-Windows based computers such as a Mac. The question has been asked as to why Windows has so many problems with both malware and spyware problems. The answer is not a simple one. There are many different reasons for this problem, one of which is that Windows OS is one of the most popular OS for computers. Mac does not have the same kind of OS and they have not had as much problem with attacks as Windows does.

There are some weaknesses in Windows that require constant updating and security measures due to all the hacking as well as viruses that come out every single day. Also, as security threats develop, many will try and exploit weaknesses in a computer that is Windows based. One thing to remember when talking about these types of problems is that at some point, your computer will be attacked by malware or spyware. Avoiding this can be difficult, especially if you use free sites, game demos or the like as malware can be placed on your computer without your knowledge or consent.

The one thing that you must do would be to read any EULA very carefully. If it has a download from a third party, a virus scan will be in order to prevent the malware or spyware from being installed on your computer. Most people do not realize that this is where some of the malware comes from and innocently click on the download button without reading the EULA.