Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
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.
Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition: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. As the next step in the process of making localized versions of Ad-Aware 2007, software update 7.0.2.7 introduces Spanish.
What's new in this version: Version 7.0.2.7 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 13,342 votes
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Current version:
3.1 starsout of 148 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"better than the last 'new' ad-aware but"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
this is somewhat better than before. i was disappointed when the graphics and features changed last spring and stopped using it. now i will use it again
Cons
i miss the bug at the end there was something satisfing about it. the graphics are still ugly compared to the ad-aware of last year but better than the first release
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"Good, but misses some?"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
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"BADDDDDDDD :("
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
NONE
Cons
It Detects just "Tracking Cookies"... I Scanned my PC and Just 40 Tracking Cookies, then, I Scanned with my Favorite anti spyware product (Spyware Doctor) and it Found more than 20 infections, included 3 trojans (CWS, DUMB, DOWNLOAD)... Ad-adware SUCKS.
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"A good program Very happy with it!"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
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"excellent"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
This prog is free easy to use and has saved many friends computers from dying excellent prog would highly recomend it to all.
Cons
maybe simplifie it for those who are not computer knowledgable
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"A great find! I'll always use your service!"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
What! I like everything about this and this site!
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"I'm not sure this is a viable partner to your other utilities anymore.."
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
Fortunately this new version still seems to help speed IE7 load speeds. When cleaning cookies doesn't work; running AdAware 2007 finds "index.data" files; very odd - I think the SE version called those cookies or MRUs; but no telling why the change. It does seem to speed things up when all else fails.
Cons
A few years ago one of the self described developers claimed Lavasoft sold out to the advertisors; and I'm begining to believe it. AdAware used to be this tremendous shield against nasty adware and "greyware" that you really didn't want in your computer. But I haven't found any truely pesky files for years, despite the fact that they are on my computer. I have to use CCleaner or JV16 to clean irritating survelance adware or pesky drive-by installations now.
My spyware utilities like Commodo Firewall Pro, Spyblaster, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Spyware Doctor take care of the real nasties now. Lavasoft has become a "softee", all it does now is speed up your browsing time, and now that seems to be done better by other means.
Now I will admit that I no longer use the paid features like AdWatch but if the free version can't do all that much, how would buying a process guard like that do any better. I think Tea Timer and Defense + on my Commodo Firewall have totally eclipsed this old tired and now bloated crapware.
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"Simple, easy, effective"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Pros
I like that I can choose if I want to wait for an entire computer scan or if I want to just have it scan less files that are most important to scan more regularly. It's also very simple.
Cons
The new updating system runs kind of slowly and doesn't always pop up top above the program, so I press update twice sometimes. However, it then tells me that it can't do that, so I know it worked already. Just kind of annoying.
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"It works OK for being free"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
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"This is not free!!"
Version: Ad-Aware 2007 7.0.2.7
Cons
This is a bunch of crap it just adds on more stuff on to your computer, this is a free trial that dosen't remove anything untill you pay 39.99 for it!!!!
Don't download it !!!!!!!
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