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 (previously) free, downloadable version called Ad-Aware SE 2007 Free, and three paid-for products called Ad-Aware 2007 Plus, Ad-Aware 2007 Pro and Ad-Aware SE Enterprise.

Overview

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.

Versions

Ad-Aware is currently available in four versions.

Ad-Aware 2007 Free

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, Server 2003 and Vista.

Ad-Aware 2007 Plus

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 extra features include automatic updating, custom scanning of specific directories, a hosts file editor and cookie blocking.

Ad-Aware 2007 Pro

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.

Ad-Aware SE Enterprise

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.

Version feature summary

History

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.

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

Usage

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.

Criticism

Ad-Aware's previous version Ad-Aware SE has been criticized by reviewers for having a perplexing 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. It was also claimed to only use basic security protection in the coding.

Test results showed that Ad-Aware SE did not always remove bundled adware program, "WhenUSave", and that removal of the program would disable the free, advertising-supported eDonkey parent program.

System requirements

Ad-Aware screenshots