Types of Adware: PuzzleDesktop

Microsoft is as a leading name in the computer software industry.  For some, it's the first choice when it comes to an operating system.  Despite the overall quality of their products, Microsoft has been known to be rather vulnerable to a wide range of exploits including hacking attempts and several forms of malware.  One threat currently plaguing several users of XP and the new Vista system is a program by the name of PuzzleDesktop. 

What is PuzzleDesktop? 

PuzzleDesktop is classified as ad-supported software, more commonly termed as adware.  It often comes bundled with a number of harmful spyware and Trojan programs which it secretly installs on your system.  Once the program is launched, PuzzleDesktop may disrupt activity by displaying dozens of pop-up advertisements and may even change hosts files in the Windows operating system.  This software makes alterations to your web browser such as creating additional buttons, links and toolbars and may also redirect web requests to pornographic sites on the internet.  PuzzleDesktop has been detected by a number of security applications and has many other names including PuzzleDesktop Adware, PuzzleDesktop Spyware and PuzzeDesktop Sudoku. 

How Did you Contract PuzzleDesktop?

PuzzleDesktop can be downloaded to your computer in several ways.  Below we have listed some of the most common methods:

Shareware or Freeware: Have you recently downloaded any shareware or freeware programs? This includes video games, tax preparation software and even security software solutions.  These applications and are low-cost or totally free, often bundled with malicious programs such as PuzzleDesktop.  Many times, adware is attached to freely distributed software to enable the authors to recover developments costs.  What the developers aren't aware of is that these applications are often bundled with the purpose of installing other malicious software and stealing your personal data. 

Peer-to-Peer Software: Do you frequently use applications or other programs with a file sharing network?  This includes programs such as Kazaa and LimeWire.  If so, your system is at the risk of infection.  What you believed to be an audio or video file just may be PuzzleDesktop in disguise.     

Questionable Internet Locations: Did you recently visit a new website?  One that appeared so suspicious that you left after a few minutes of browsing?  Many sites on the web have been compromised or purposly designed to exploit your system.  If caution is not practiced, you can be easily exposed to phishing and pharming scams or infected with viruses and malicious adware like the PuzzleDesktop program.  These nasty infections can be quickly installed without your knowledge. 

Removing PuzzleDesktop  

While some adware comes with an uninstall function, PuzzleDesktop does not, making it very difficult to remove.  For a user with limited technical knowledge, completely remove this program is virtually impossible.  It requires you to halt all PuzzleDesktop processes as well as remove any registry keys, DLL files and any other content it may have installed.  This requires a lot of time and searching in sensitive areas of Windows that shouldn't be accessed by inexperienced users.  The most effective way of to uninstall this troublesome application is to use a reliable anti-malware program.  Once it has been removed, you may want to consider either changing your Internet Explorer web browser or even the Windows operating system.  Systems provided by Linux and Macintosh are much less vulnerable to PuzzleDesktop and other forms of malware.