Ad-Aware

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Lavasoft's Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware 2007 Screenshot
Developer Lavasoft AB Sweden
Latest release 7.0.2.5 / October 31, 2007
OS Microsoft Windows
Natural language(s) Multilingual[1]
Genre Spyware removal software
License Proprietary
Website Lavasoft.com

Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware program developed by Lavasoft that detects and removes spyware or adware on a user's computer. It also detects dialers, Trojans, malware, data-mining, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijackers and tracking components.

Lavasoft offers a free, downloadable version called Ad-Aware 2007 Free, and three paid-for products called Ad-Aware 2007 Plus, Ad-Aware 2007 Pro and Ad-Aware SE Enterprise.

Contents

Ad-Aware 2007 is the latest version of Lavasoft’s anti-spyware solutions. Ad-Aware 2007 allows computer users to combat malicious spyware and malware; it protects users from spyware that takes control of a computer and can result in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity and stolen private information. Ad-Aware detects hazardous content on a user's computer, identifies the threat level, and then gives the user the ability to remove unwanted content.

Lavasoft’s Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology detects malware and then searches for similar codes in order to identify emerging variants. Ad-Aware 2007 scans the computer's memory, registry, Hosts file, hard, removable and optical drives for known data-mining, aggressive advertising, parasites, scumware, keyloggers, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components.

Ad-Aware is compatible with Microsoft Windows operating systems only.

Ad-Aware is currently available in four versions.

Ad-Aware 2007 Free is Lavasoft's freeware anti-spyware software that is available for home, non-commercial use. It is offered to consumers worldwide to protect their personal and home computers from malware attacks, and has been downloaded over a quarter of a billion times. The download includes skins, help manuals and the latest definition files, however, real-time protection is not included with this version. Real-time protection and other advanced features are available in the paid versions of Ad-Aware 2007. The freeware version of Ad-Aware is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003 and Vista.

The main difference between the Free and the Plus and Pro versions is the addition of real-time scanning. Real-time scanning means that users are protected as they use the Internet. Other additional features include automatic updating, custom scanning of specific directories, a hosts file editor and cookie blocking.

Ad-Aware Pro incorporates all the features of the Free and Plus versions while also offering command line support, and the ability to scan other hard drives across a network. Two other programs are also included: Ad-Watch Connect and a Process Watch Module.[2]

Ad-Aware SE Enterprise is for businesses that want central control of all their network computers with Ad-Aware installed. It includes network tools to manage and monitor Ad-Aware across a network.

Ad-Aware 2007 Free Ad-Aware 2007 Plus Ad-Aware 2007 Pro Ad-Aware SE Enterprise
Automatic Updates No Yes Yes Yes
Custom Scans No Yes Yes Yes
Scheduled Scanning No Yes Yes Yes
Ad-Watch Real-Time Monitor No Yes Yes Yes
Ad-Watch RegShield No Yes Yes Yes
Hosts File Editor No Yes Yes Yes
Cookie Blocking No Yes Yes Yes
Free Support No Yes Yes Yes
Priority Threat Updates No Yes Yes Yes
Additional Scan Reports No Yes Yes Yes
Additional Command Line Support No No Yes Yes
Ad-Watch Connect No No Yes Yes
Process Watch Module No No Yes Yes
Network Drive Scanning No No Yes Yes
Monitor machines across a network with AAW installed No No No Yes
Scan one or more client computers across network No No No Yes
Update all AAW computers on network No No No Yes
Cost Freeware USD 26.95 USD 39.95 N/A (Volume licenses only)

Ad-aware was originally developed in late 1998 to highlight web beacons inside of Internet Explorer. On almost every website you would see tiny pixelated square next to each web beacon. This was to warn you that your IP address and other non-essential information was being tracked by this website. Over time they added the ability to block those beacons, or ads. Ad-Aware no longer makes you aware of the ads on your screen, instead the programs fights spyware and malware.[citation needed]

Ad-Aware 2007 does not support Windows 98 or ME; previous versions did support these older versions of Windows.[1]

Between May 27, 2005 (when version 1.06 appeared on Download.com) and April 23, 2007, the program was downloaded over 239 million times. It has now been replaced with Ad-Aware 2007, which is listed as having been downloaded over 255 million times.[3]

Ad-Aware's previous version Ad-Aware SE has been criticized by reviewers for having a confusing interface and not being able to schedule scans and automatic updates. Some found the customer support poor and thought the product was expensive compared to other similar products.[4] It was also claimed to only use basic security protection in the coding.[5]

Test results showed that Ad-Aware SE didn't always remove bundled adware program, "WhenUSave", and that removal of the program would disable the free, advertising-supported eDonkey parent program.[6][7]

Compatible Operating Systems:

Other Requirements:

Ad-Watch

Hosts File Editor

Process Watch

  1. ^ Sales FAQ - Lavasoft. Lavasoft. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  2. ^ Ad-Aware (undated). Ad-Aware 2007 Pro. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  3. ^ CNet (undated). Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.3. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  4. ^ Adware Report (October 9, 2005). Adaware SE Review. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  5. ^ Roy Batty (undated). Ad-Aware PR. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  6. ^ Better Spyware Removal (undated). Spyware Test Results. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  7. ^ Eric L. Howes (October 8-9, 2004). [http://spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-results-3.htm The Spyware Warrior Guide to Anti-Spyware Testing: Results #3]. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.

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