- Quick specs
- Price: Free; paid upgrade available
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: August 01, 2007
- Total Downloads: 340,329,389
- Downloads last week: 679,439
- See full specifications
A newer version of Ad-Aware 2007 is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 11263 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
One of the first applications built to find and remove adware and spyware, Ad-Aware's excellent reputation is well-justified. While the 2007 edition is still free, it does have some new features that may make you reconsider the height of the pedestal it sits on.
First off, the app's updater is now permanently on, running in your system's background. The irony of Ad-Aware running potential spyware is not lost on us. The interface has also been completely overhauled, and it's a bit more confusing. There are six tabs in the nav bar. Status and Scan initiate adware scans, and finish with a line-item list so you can select which components to remove and create a system restore point. The context menu offers some information about suspected adware, though it's light on details.
Other navbar buttons include Ad-Watch, offering real-time defenses but only in the paid version. Plug-ins are disabled in the free version, but the Tools and Plug-ins tab hosts TrackSweep, the new browsing tracks cleaner. Smoothly integrated into the app, it wipes the cache, cookies, and history, and other breadcrumbs left by major browsers. We couldn't help but notice, though, that the Web Update tab, which controls definition file and software updates, ran far more sluggishly than in previous editions, and sometimes even crashed the program.
The Settings tab 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. The freeware restrictions are mildly irritating, but they're nothing compared to some of the serious stability and background processes in the 2007 version. However, it is a fully functional adware remover, and it continues to do that well. With some hesitation, we recommend Ad-Aware 2007 as part of your arsenal.
Watch the CNET video review of Ad-Aware 2007:
Publisher's description
From Lavasoft :With the ability to scan your RAM, Registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components, Ad-Aware 2007 easily can clean your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web.
Ad-Aware 2007 includes a redesigned engine, improved code sequence identification, incremental definition updates, one-click Web-history cleanup, multiple browser support, and other new features. Version 7.0.1.6 includes unspecified updates.
Note: After installation, the program will ask you for a registration code. Just hit Cancel to run the free version.
What's new in this version:
Ad-Aware 2007 includes a redesigned engine, improved code sequence identification, incremental definition updates, one-click Web-history cleanup, multiple browser support, and other new features. Version 7.0.1.6 includes unspecified updates.
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User reviews of Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 11263 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 344 user reviewsSee all 344 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
4 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
"I will increase my rating from one star to two!"
Cons: Why, because you are trying to get the bugs out. I actually made it through a COMPLETE scan this time without the program crashing lol!
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14 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
"AD-AWARE SE IS 10 X BETTER (as i only wanted on demand scanner)"
Pros: for me about 22 gig files etc lighting fast scan time ,same great GUI ,
does a good job finding/deleting baddies and updates ok
Cons: if you only want the on demand scanner you have to download nearly 18 mb
most of it is for the plus and pro vers, witch they want you to buy.
many people just want the free on demand scanner if this is the case i suggest you stick with the old SE version
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27 out of 34 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
"I don't care much for this program."
Pros: It's slow, heavy and still has errors and crashes. Ad watch remains a part of the install even though it's not available in the free version. After all this time theres still no "vista" support and because thats all I use now, I have no use for this product. I'd like to show other users an article posted sometime ago, yet hasn't changed very much since it's posting. This is not software I can recommend and trust me, my computers stay exceptionally clean of all types of infections.
usa.kaspersky.com/threats/spyware.php
Please, just take a little time and read this article. I found it very interesting, to say the least.
Cons: No comment. See pros.
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18 out of 23 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
Pros: Glitzy GUI for the eye candy lovers
Cons: The background service used 20 megs, even when the program wasn't running. Had numerous small problems with updating and false positives, but mainly, the forum help was non-existent. I couldn't even register, an email sent to the "contact us" address link bounced back as undeliverable.
Permanently uninstalled. There are at least 5 better free options.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.1.6
"Good, but not very userfriendly."
Pros: -I still feel Ad-AwareSE Personal(Lavasoft's previous anti-spyware program) is better than this new Ad-Aware 2007Free.This new one scans well and removes whatever you don't want and improved the UI.Since it is free they have put some limitations.
Cons: -It puts an aawservice.exe process always in the system and consumes around 23000K of memory even without running the program.If you disable this from startup programs, then the program never works even if you re-allow it in startup.This is the third time I am downloading and installing this to make it alright.If Lavasoft continues with such measures to its Free version,then the users will be forced to uninstall it and go for better user-friendly programs.
- See all 344 user reviews Write review
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