CNET Editors' review
The bottom line: One of the first applications built to find and remove malware and spyware, Ad-Aware's reputation has been well-justified. The latest version adroitly addresses some user concerns, yet performance-based annoyances remain.
Review:
Ad-Aware 9.5 continues the development progress that publisher Lavasoft began in version 8. No longer content with offering only malware protection, Ad-Aware now includes antivirus protections licensed from Sunbelt, the makers of Vipre, as well as interesting in-house improvements.
Lavasoft first started changing Ad-Aware's protection engine more than a year ago in version 8.1, when it introduced Genotype. This heuristics-based technology identified identical snippets of code across multiple threat mutations. In version 9, Genotype received support from what Lavasoft calls "Dedicated Detection." This tech looks inside files, analyzes the code, and creates a loose pattern for finding families of related malware. The company touts that a single dedicated detection signature can detect hundreds of thousands of threats. More importantly, Lavasoft expects that dedicated detection will lower false positive rates by creating more points of comparison.
Ad-Aware 9 debuts new tech
The second new engine, MagmaShield, is proactive. It emulates processor instructions, comparing approved processor-level operations against those that are undefined in the application layer. This means that it aggressively looks at how a file interacts with the CPU and uses that to call out threats faster.
Editors' note: Portions of this review are based on CNET's review of Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free 9.
Installation
Ad-Aware 9.5 Free has a fairly straightforward installation process, simple in procedure. The installer file has been shrunk from around 130 MB in version 9.0 to a 12 MB "stub" installer in the current version. This stub then downloads about 80 MB of data to run the installation, which is still a significant decrease. Ad-Aware has no toolbars and won't attempt to commandeer your default browser's search engine, an irritation that some free competitors still believe in. Installing does require a reboot, which is expected for security software. The install itself was a bit slow, taking more than five minutes including the reboot, yet it's noticeably faster than it used to be.
Interface
Ad-Aware's interface hasn't changed much since version 8, which means that it's still in dire need of a refresh. The main window offers three icons that you can click on to update your virus definition files and engines, scan your system, or check your status on Ad-Watch Live, Ad-Aware's real-time protection engine. Below the main icons there's a button for updating your scan schedule and accessing support, while a toggle button to jump between simple mode and advanced mode sits in the bottom left corner of the interface. The interface's simple mode merely makes some otherwise visible options disappear, hidden behind an extra click. All but the newest of users ought to feel comfortable using Ad-Aware's "advanced" mode.
As you can tell, it's sort of a mess, and we're not done yet. At the top right of the interface are a series of buttons that replicate the three features in the main window, as well as a fourth for accessing "extras". A Settings button sits below those four.
Tapping the Scan button will run a full scan, and there's no way to change this behavior to Smart scan or Profile scan, the Ad-Aware term for a custom scan. Within the Scan window there are tabs near the top for jumping into the scheduler, the quarantine, and the ignore list.
The Ad-Watch Live window will show you which kinds of real-time protection you have running. Process protcetion defaults to on, while File, Network, and Registry protection are available only in the Ad-Aware paid upgrade. Some competitors, such as Avast, offer all of these in their free version.
Features
As mentioned above, the "Dedicated Detection" and MagmaShield engines were the biggest feature improvements in Ad-Aware 9 Free, although there's no direct interaction between them and the user. Lavasoft has tweaked the scheduler behavior a bit in version 9. The feature arrived in the free version only recently in version 8.3. Ad-Aware Free users can only schedule two scans; upgrading to Ad-Aware Pro removes the handicap. Both Free and Pro users can schedule Smart scans, Full scans, custom scans, and can set them to run daily, weekly, monthly, or at Windows startup.
In addition to virus and malware scans, Ad-Aware 9.5 Free offers a browser track sweeper. Accessible from the Extras button, it can wipe your cache, cookies, history, last typed URLs, and tabs from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. The Toolbox, a second tab under Extras, contains options such as additional process-protecting features that are restricted to the paid upgrade.
Ad-Aware has some limitations that make it hard to compare favorably to its free competitors. You can't view other parts of the program while running a scan, and the scan itself lacks a progress meter or a pause button. Ad-Aware Free cannot scan networked drives.
The restrictions placed on the real-time shields also stands competitors like Panda Cloud Antivirus, Avast, AVG, and Avira on a more solid security foundation. Ad-Aware is also missing other key features, such as Web protection and a silent/gaming mode. Advanced rootkit removal is only available in the paid upgrade as well, leaving Ad-Aware 9 Free with a similar problem to the previous versions: the basic feature set is adequate yet lacking.
No major changes were made to the feature set from version 9 to 9.5.
Performance
Ad-Aware 9 Free performed scans on a real-world computer quite slowly, taking close to 2 hours for its first Full scan. The quick, "Smart" scan, which checks only mission-critical areas of your computer for infection, took about 4 minutes in version 9, slightly slower than the quick scan under version 8.3. Meanwhile, version 9.5 averaged 5 minutes, 37 seconds over three cold-boot runs. So, despite Lavasoft's claims that the program has gotten faster, it appears that the opposite is true.
Lavasoft has not submitted Ad-Aware to be tested by any third-party efficacy tests at threat detection and removal, so we can't speak directly to how secure it will make you. CNET Labs has tested the suite for how it affects your system, and found that while it had a lighter-than-average impact on system performance, its scans were the slowest we've encountered so far this year.
| Security Program | Boot time | Shutdown time | Scan time | MS Office performance | iTunes decoding | Media multitasking | Cinebench |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unprotected system | 40 | 6 | n/a | 395 | 120 | 342 | 17,711 |
| Average of all tested systems (to date) | 57.41 | 19.18 | 1,323 | 420.17 | 125.17 | 351 | 17,097.17 |
| Lavasoft Ad-Aware 9.5 Pro Internet Security | 54.4 | 16.9 | 2,080 | 405 | 125 | 347 | 16,884 |
| Lavasoft Ad-Aware 9.5 Free Internet Security | 59 | 12.8 | 2,076 | 406 | 123 | 342 | 17,132 |
*All tests measured in seconds, except for Cinebench. On the Cinebench test, the higher number is better.
These benchmarks show that Ad-Aware is definitely light on your system for startup and shutdown times, at least when compared to the average-to-date. Its impact on in-use programs, especially during the iTunes decoding test and media multitasking test, were the smallest so far this year. However, Ad-Aware's scans were the slowest we've seen by around 200 seconds compared to the next slowest, and around 700 seconds slower than average.
The in-system marks are strong, no doubt, but most people will be looking at scan speed, and that definitely has to be tightened when coming from an underdog position.
Conclusion
Longtime fans will notice the changes to Ad-Aware, and the program continues to grow in the right direction after several missteps in recent years. While the free version continues to make improvements and seems to be unwilling to rest on its malware-removing laurels, Ad-Aware 9.5 Free remains undeniably hamstrung.
Watch the CNET video review of Ad-Aware Free Internet Security:
Publisher's Description
From Lavasoft:
Ad-Aware Free provides core protection against Internet threats. Featuring real-time anti-malware protection, advanced Genocode detection technology, rootkit protection, a scheduler, Ad-Aware Free Internet Security gives you the power to protect yourself online. Ad-Aware Free version is a complete malware protection that now combines Lavasoft's pioneer technology for anti-spyware with traditional anti-virus protection.
What's new in this version:
- Better web browsing protection
- Real-time protection against phishing websites
- Improved privacy settings
- Easily remove unwanted browser adware
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 12,745 votes
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Current version:
3.7 starsout of 43 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"it's simple, great and free"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
can get a bit tricky if you don't know what you're doing... leave the advanced features to the more knowledgeable, just set it up and let it do its job
Cons
as as above
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"SIMPLE AND EASY TO USE!!! MY FAVORITE COMBINATION ;)"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
The multitude of software available for free these days is alarming. knowing which product to use for your specific needs is difficult to understand becuase someone is always trying to sell you something.
That's why I love AD-AWARE, its free and very easy to use and the best part is that i never have to scan my system again! Ad-Aware alerts me when a potential virus is trying to access my computer and is able to eliminate the threat in real time.
So i install it. Set it, and forget it! Its THAT easy!!!Cons
None really. Other than sometimes i forget its there.
;-)Summary
This has to be one the most powerfull and complete apps for internet security out there at the moment.
it uses almost no resources from my computer, so i never have to worry about slowing down my machine with useless bloated software like "Malwarebytes Anti-Malware" (the program i used to use)
This little app is so reliable i can browse, download, and view anything i want from any web page and email contact without having to worry about a thing... Becuase Ad-Aware has my back! -
"I have been using ad-aware for years still works"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Free and works
Cons
Bulkier, stuffed with extra junk
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"WARNING!!!"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
None what so ever
Cons
large file to download, eats up resources, crashes and/or freezes often
Summary
The CNET editor confirmed that AdAware has performance issues but he still gave 4 stars which is beyond me. If it doesnt perform, then whats the point? And WARNING, once you install this garbage, it wont let you uninstall it.
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"Deleted Ad Aware Free off of all of my computers"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Great at detecting malware WHEN I can use it.
Cons
I can no longer use Ad Aware Free because it will not update on any of my computers. It used to update whenever I clicked "update" OR it would tell me that it was up to date. Now, it will NOT update on any of my computers.
Summary
No updates makes a useless product. Not worth fighting it and trying over and over to update. Deleted from all of my computers.
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"Ad-Aware found Trojan viruses that other AV's didn't..."
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Quickly detected infections on my machines and removed them. Super simple to use. Not sure why everyone says it uses huge CPU resources... IMO, it is the least demanding and resource reliant program I use. under 1% CPU utilization, no doubt less than all the other antimalwares I have tried.
Cons
It fixed and cleaned my pc from malware I didn't even know was installed on my machine. As far as I am concerned, there are no cons
Summary
I have college courses in computer science and thought I knew about computer security. I have McAfee Security Suite, Microsoft Security Essentials and a few other security programs on my computer. I do all my banking and online college for my advance degree all on this computer. I always used ad-ware free program and thought I'd also try Ad-ware Pro. With in minutes on the Smart Scan I found out that I had trojan viruses installed on my computer - one was even a key logger monitoring my every key stroke. Ad-ware Pro removed the threat and my computer now runs faster and makes me feel more secure then ever. I am using Ad-ware Pro 30 day free trial and I will surely try to purchase it when my time on that program runs out. Finally a company that is honest and stays true to their word about customer safety being a real and major concern for their business. Thank You again for the great programs you develop and place on the market.
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"Ad-Aware works like magic!!!"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Real time protection
Light
Dependable
Small download size
Only security software solution that actually cleaned my infected work station
FREE
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware paid solutions are pretty cheapCons
Slow scan times but with hard drives that are over 200 GB its normal...
Aside from that NO COMPLAINTS!Summary
One of our workstations got infected with the XP Security Center malware which for some reason MS Security Essentials did not block. I did a full scan with MSSE from Safe Mode which did not clear it at all. I downloaded and did a full scan with Malwarebytes and saw some improvement but still had major problems. i was just about to give up and do a reformat and upgrade to Windows 7, when I noticed that we had an old copy of AdAware sitting on our server which I installed and upgraded. I did a full scan from safe mode as instructed and it worked! The machine is now working perfectly. I upgraded to Pro and the machine is now being protected by AdAware. Thanks! You saved me a good deal of work and $$.
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"Very Good Program to Have"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Seemed to be solid and good at what it claims.
Cons
It may not seem as fast as Malwarebytes but maybe it does a more thorough job?
Summary
Recommended program to have on any genuine windows system.
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"It adds protection from threats both real & unrealized."
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Simple, easy to use!
Cons
None, as I said easy to use!
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"Functional but not work alongside other Anti-virus"
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.6
Pros
Its smart-scan is fast and efficient.It can locate any spyware, ad-ware that the other can't.
Cons
It doesn't working alongside either NOD32 or COMODO IS, even if you set all Adaware to be trusted by those.
I've tried still to use it with COMODO, but it was cracked down itself after fresh install. Even I tried to re-install it, it cannot uninstall itself, and cannot be found in Control Panel>Programs & Features.Summary
The symptom of cracked down is that it automatically non-stop popup the Update Manager, and you cannot kill all related in Task Manager.
I ended it by deleted manually all its files and registry by WinUtilities.
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