- Quick specs
- Price: Free; paid upgrade available
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: October 13, 2009
- Total Downloads: 340,847,561
- Downloads last week: 679,439
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 11263 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on October 11, 2009
One of the first applications built to find and remove malware and spyware, Ad-Aware's reputation is well-justified. The latest version continues the publisher's tradition of adroitly addressing user concerns, but isn't yet perfect.
Building on the improvements made in version 8, former Ad-Aware users should be glad to hear that the program installs faster than it used to. Without a doubt, though, this version of Ad-Aware improves greatly on what has come before. It loads faster during your boot cycle, and scans are faster. Empirical tests noted that while the Quick Scan finished in less than 10 minutes for version 8, the current version's Quick Scan finished in under three minutes. Previous files that had been falsely detected as threats weren't flagged this time around, probably due in part to Ad-Aware's behavioral detection engine. Called Genotype, it's based on heuristics and uses a one-pass scanning system, Genotype isn't directly exposed to users, although you can opt in to anonymously contribute data from the Settings menu. The new version also explicitly calls out in the scan windows what the scan looks for.
New users should note that Ad-Aware Free performs faster than integrated antivirus and antimalware programs in part because only the paid version of Ad-Aware comes with an antivirus engine. Other important features are disabled in the free version. While rootkit detection is present, behavior-based heuristics and real-time registry protection are not. Ad-Aware Free cannot scan networked drives, and even a basic feature like the scheduler remains off-limits to nonpaying customers. The proprietary real-time defender Ad-Watch Live has been reconfigured to run more smoothly in the background, however, and long-time fans will notice the change. Ad-Aware continues to make improvements and seems to be unwilling to rest on its malware-removing laurels, but the free version is undeniably hamstrung.
Watch the CNET video review of Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware:
Publisher's description
From Lavasoft :With behavior-based threat detection and integrated real-time monitoring, Ad-Aware focuses on core consumer security needs. Instead of adding layers of bells and whistles--thereby slowing your computer and scans down--we have decided to focus on what really matters. Ad-Aware provides advanced threat protection, and is significantly lighter and faster than our previous versions.
What's new in this version:
Version 8.1.0 includes new anti-malware technology with new Genotype detection and behavior-based heuristics, new usability features that allow you to tailor the program to fit your needs, and the community collaboration that will allow you to customize Ad-Aware to your needs.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 11263 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 196 user reviewsSee all 196 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware 8.1.0
Pros: Simple interface
Cons: Recommended Action after a scan does not show what is recommended.
Slow to load. Maybe there is a reason? I can load Adobe Photoshop faster by 25 percent. -
Version: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware 8.1.0
Pros: Problem with this kind of software is it is difficult to judge its performance except when it fails -hence my comment that it "seems to work". The worst thing I've ever found has been an occasional tracking cookie. Adaware run practically invisibly.
Cons: No problems detected. Remember to run Adaware as one part of a multi-layered protection. If you try to protect your system with just Adaware you deserve what you get.
Summary: Problem with this kind of software is it is difficult to judge its performance except when it fails. If it is running correctly it is invisible ? For me Adaware has been practically invisible. I have been running anti-virus and firewall for years (A... read more >>
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Version: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware 8.1.0
Pros: I know that ad aware is suppose to be good. However, ever since I restarted my computer (Using Windows XP) I have been waiting for over and hour for the program to load. I am going to be uninstalling it after I write this review.
Cons: Much much too long wait for the program to even open. Not good.
Summary: Don't use this. Go get Spy-Bot or something relevant to it. Ad-Aware takes way too long.
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Version: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware 8.1.0
"It just asks me to send an error report to Lavasoft"
Pros: Don;t Know until I can make it run
Cons: It won't run
Summary: Error message is no help
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Version: Ad-Aware Free Anti-Malware 8.1.0
Pros: simple and efficient
Cons: I am still looking for something wrong about it.
Summary: open with a click, take a drink of coffee and a bite of a goodie and watch the results, click again and its done.
- See all 196 user reviews Write review
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