There’s nothing worse than to start seeing ads pop up on your desktop where you know they shouldn’t be. Extensions you don’t know, browsers you never downloaded, they are all signs that adware has infected your computer and will continue to be anything from a nuisance to a threat to your personal information and the security of your system.
Fortunately, there is an impressive number of adware blockers and removal tools that are not only free to use, but also very good at their appointed tasks.
Fortunately, trusted sites contain Windows antivirus reviews to help you combat the evils of the Internet.
Here’s a glance at 20 of the best free adware removal options for Windows PC.
1. SlimComputer
Agility and flexibility are big things in the business world and this adware remover follows suit. It detects and eliminates adware, but also finds issues with your PC that are affecting performance and recommends a course of action for them.
2. SUPERAntiSpyware
This lightweight entry hunts down Trojans, rootkits, malicious programs, malware, and adware. It has an available portable version which you can put in the cloud or on a USB drive to help you help a machine that has been compromised by malware.
3. Norton Power Eraser
Norton is a big-time player in the antivirus market and has its brand name in adware as well with a free offering for Windows. Power Eraser doesn’t fool around, making you immediately shut down and restart your computer so it can examine every process as it happens.
4. Spybot Search & Erase
The name “Spybot” sounds a little 1990s, but this free edition takes out malware, adware, and spyware in one fell swoop. There are two paid versions as well.
5. UnThreat Free Antivirus
“Unthreat” may be a made-up word, but its power over adware is very real. It doesn’t wait around to ask about quarantined items; it blocks them on the spot and takes out Trojans as well.
6. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+
You have to love free programs that update every day, and Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ is one of those. It scans, detects and helps remove the threat to your PC, your web browsing, and your emails.
7. Adware Removal Tool
The name tells it all, and it works just as well on Firefox, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge.
8. AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner has a super simple interface with buttons like “Scanner” and “Deinstaller”. It goes above and beyond to eliminate unnecessary programs from your PC.
9. RunScanner
RunScanner is the bare bones of adware removal systems that don’t even need installing, you can carry it around in your pocket on a flash drive.
10. MalwareFox
It certainly doesn’t hurt that the MalwareFox logo looks a lot like that for Firefox. It’s more for malware than adware, but it removes things like pop-ups, redirects, and browser hijacks. In addition to a database, it uses behavioral blocking technology to identify adware and malware which have familiar characteristics, even if they aren’t in an established database.
11. Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool
One of the heavyweights of the industry is Bitdefender, which is also fantastic at knocking out malware, spyware, and malicious programs.
12. RegRun Reanimator
Nothing like a little sense of humor in your software title. There are lots of scanning options here as well as a restore manager if the wrong things get flushed.
13. FreeFixer
FreeFixer looks into more than 40 locations where unwanted adware likes to hide on your computer and collects their locations for you to review and wipe out.
14. YAC
Short for Yet Another Cleaner, it knocks out adware, and helps speed up your system and uninstall unnecessary programs.
15. Junkware Removal Tool
Very basic removal system that has a command line interface to make its point about being bare bones.
16. Free AntiSpyware
Goes beyond adware to check for keyloggers, dialers, Trojans, and more
17. RemoveIT Pro
A nice play on words and a great resource, it updates its database daily.
18. NoVirusThanks Malware Remover
The database updates regularly and it can scan for adware and remove it automatically or with your supervision.
19. TC-Spy
Has a powerful database from which to download data and further functions like the task manager.
20. Lark AntiSpyware
Lark easily removes adware and has a customized antispyware setup as well.