Ad-Aware 2007

One of the first applications built to find and remove adware and spyware, Ad-Aware 2007's excellent reputation is well-justified.

The interface features two skins and six tabs in the nav bar. The first two, Status and Scan, initiate file scans for adware. After scanning is complete, the program presents a results summary, followed by a line-item list from which you can select which components to remove. There is also an option to create a system restore point. Right-clicking an individual entry gives some information about suspected adware, though details beyond whether the malware is critical or negligible wouldn't hurt.

The third button, Ad-Watch, offers real-time defenses but only in the paid version. Web Update, the next button, controls definition file updates. The fifth button, Tools and Plug-ins, shows you which plug-ins are installed and controls TrackSweep, the new browsing tracks cleaner. TrackSweep is the only free function here. Smoothly integrated into the app, it wipes the cache, cookies, and history, and other breadcrumbs left by major browsers.

Settings is last, and provides access to auto-scans, browsers, scanning, the interface, and log files. The app does an excellent job of removing most malware components, although rescanning is necessary for a seriously infected machine. Despite the freeware restrictions, this is a fully functional adware remover, and Ad-Aware 2007 should be part of your arsenal.