Command your signal. Rule the air.
- Quick specs
- Price: Free; paid upgrade available
- Operating system: Windows 2000 Professional/XP 32-bit/Vista 32-bit/64-bit/7 32-bit/64-bit
- Date added: July 15, 2010
- Total Downloads: 357,319,132
- Downloads last week: 578,337
- Product Ranking: #2 in Spyware Removers
- See full specifications
- CNET Community
- This product is on 19 member lists. Add to my list Add to my Watch List
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 11693 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on July 19, 2010
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 flaws remain.
Building on the improvements made in version 8, former Ad-Aware users should be glad to hear that the program installs faster than before. This version of Ad-Aware offers two new features to users of the free version that had previously been restricted to the paid upgrades: antivirus protection, and a long-awaited scheduler. The AV protection comes courtesy Sunbelt, makers of Vipre. Ad-Aware 8.3 loads faster during your boot cycle, and scans are fast. 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 3 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.
At least in our tests, the latest Ad-Aware Free performs slightly slower than the previous version, probably because of the integrated antivirus engine. While rootkit detection is present, behavior-based heuristics and real-time registry protection are not. Ad-Aware Free cannot scan networked drives. The proprietary real-time defender Ad-Watch Live has been reconfigured to run more smoothly in the background, however, and longtime fans will notice the change. While the free version is still undeniably hamstrung, Ad-Aware continues to make improvements and seems to be unwilling to rest on its malware-removing laurels.
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 Genotype 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:
Version 8.3 has now expanded to include anti-virus protection.More popular Spyware Removers downloads
- 648,156 downloads 1. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
- 578,337 downloads 2. Ad-Aware Free Internet Security
- 88,741 downloads 3. Spybot - Search & Destroy
- 27,497 downloads 4. SpywareBlaster
- 24,787 downloads 5. Trend Micro HijackThis
- See all Spyware Removers downloads
User reviews
- All versions: 3.8 starsout of 11693 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- Current version: 3.6 starsout of 69 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
1 stars
19 out of 20 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"THE PINNACLE OF ABSOLUTE BLOATWARE !!!"
Pros: Luckily i didn't pay for the Pro version!!
Cons: Freezes all the time, updating takes forever and just a glorified cookie catcher!!!
Summary: This software is absolutely huge!!! 123mb of bloatware, just a geriatric cookie catcher! Updating has now gone beyond a joke, now takes longer than ever. Upon my first reboot, straight away it froze and refused to respond, had to then do another reboot. Eventually got it working, after taking 5 minutes updating it froze again! For the 123mb you get very few functions that work. If this is how the free version responds, i dread to think how the Pro version works. The free version is supposed to be a taste of the good things to come in the Pro version! I think the guys at Lavasoft have lost the plot, the last version was 100mb! And now this fat rhino! What's next 150mb???????!!!!
How come Malwarebytes, at a fraction of the size (just under 6mb) can achieve and detect far much more than this huge carbuncle???
Lavasoft's heyday has long been and gone! SE version was the best, and this version is the worst!!
Don't waste your time with this bloatware, try Malwarebytes or even Superantispyware. -
1 stars
13 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"This version includes anti-virus protection!"
Pros: I don't like anything about Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3.
Cons: Ad-Aware 8.3 includes anti-virus protection!
Summary: I received an email notification from CNet.com about a new version of Ad-Aware. I briefly read the CNet editor's review and some user comments, then installed it on my computer. When I started a scan, one line on the screen caught my protection: This latest version includes anti-virus protection. Now, I have read many articles about the dangers of having more than one anti-virus program on a computer, and I already subscribe to an anti-virus suite. I stopped the scan before any harm was done, and have deleted Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3 from my system. Granted, I should have read all the information before installing it, but after years when Ad-Aware provided anti-spyware (only!) updates, it didn't occur to me that Ad-Aware would now include anti-virus protection, possibly resulting in a major computer problem for unsuspecting users who already have an anti-virus program installed. I am somewhat disappointed that neither Ad-Aware nor CNet points this out.
Typo correction: Line 4, "protection" should read "attention."
Updated on Jul 17, 2010 -
1 stars
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"Absolute crap-ware"
Pros: I remember when this product was a decent cookie catcher.
Cons: WOW........where to start. The download is absolutely huge, updates take forever, scanning takes an hour at best. Its not even a good cookie remover anymore.
Summary: This program had a lot of potential, but with each passing version (except SE), it got worse and worse. Quite sad really. Just get Malwarebytes and/or SUPERAntiSpyware. For Av use Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast.
-
3 stars
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"Too big of a footprint for everyday use."
Pros: This free software is nice for most users. It works well and gives trusted results.
Cons: It takes up way too much space on the HD for what it performs.
Summary: My suggestion is to use separate free downloads (not this one) for the same purposes. I won't plug anyone here with a free advertisement, but you probably know who they are.
-
2 stars
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"This bloatware is not exceptional other than it's size!"
Pros: Nice, easy interface, good selection of individual components, but heavy handed execution.
Cons: Huge download, caused computer to freeze, naggy popups, not notably more effective than much leaner products available. Suites are slow and cumbersome by nature, and this one will not be taking up space on my computer any longer.
Summary: I installed to try, based on past experience with Ad-Aware 6. This product "coulda been a contender" except that it tries to do too many things at the same time, compromising the whole suite. Non-efficient code produces a behemoth download that takes forever to download, longer to scan, and produces slowdowns and freezes on my computer. Lavasoft has fallen from grace with this product, even if it is free!
The last line of the comments from Lavasoft are laughable....significantly leaner and faster than previous versions....I think not!
Updated on Jul 18, 2010 -
2 stars
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"What a waste of my time :("
Pros: Its free and 5 years ago was very good.
GUI looks real pretty
Detects cookies and some malware.Cons: It took 30 mins to download,10 mins to install on an infected computer and then another 90 mins to complete a scan.It found more cookies then it did malwares and failed to delete 39 critical malware items it detected despite restarting the computer.
Summary: Waste of my time downloading this software,why is it rated number one at CNet :(
I tried MalwareBytes(380) and SupeAntispyware(9) after uninstalling this and between them they found another 389 malwares combined.
So with that i dont uderstand how C/Net technical expert can give this software a 4.5 star rating.Is there some kind of commercial gain between the 2 companies as this application has turned from a once very effective software into an oversized(over hyped) waste of computer resources.
No longer will i use this product or continue recommending it to freinds andfamily as i have no faith in it anymore! -
3 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"A good free anti-spyware solution but..."
Pros: Glad to see Lavasoft provide separate controls for real-time (active) virus protection AND a different option for scanning - this way you can turn off the active virus scanner if you have another one in use.
Cons: Because it has anti-virus capabilities, you have to suffer through anti-spyware AND anti-virus definition downloads - even if you never use the anti-virus capabilities.
Application takes a long time to load.Summary: I've used Ad-Aware since day one - when spyware was more theory than reality. In general Ad-Aware has been passed by much of its competition, but it still remains a decent product - and its hard to argue with free.
I like that you can turn the anti-virus off separately for real-time protection and for scanning. I typically turn these both off and let avast! handle the anti-virus chores. Note that the problem with running multiple anti-virus is only a problem if they are both/all trying to perform real-time protection. So, if you want to include the Ad-Aware virus scan to your malware scan it will be fine.
The long load times are disappointing. I typically use Ad-aware only occasionally and fire it up to do a malware scan. This takes a while. And since I only do this once a week or so, the virus/malware defs are usually in need of updating - more time spent downloading and installing.
For somebody that's looking for a FREE anti-virus and anti-spyware solution this is a good choice. -
5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"Easy to use, easy to see results"
Pros: Finds every ad cookie
Cons: I ocassionally block too many cookies, websites need clear connective names, not something off the wall that has no word connection to the websites name.
Summary: I always recommend AdAware, Ive used it for years and donate for the good work.
-
4 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"Fast and easy to use"
Pros: easy to use and functionally effective
Cons: none that I can think of
Summary: This product was recommended by CNET. It performs well and is a very easy and effective second line defense against malware.
-
5 stars
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 8.3
"best free ad, etc. catcher you can get !!!!"
Pros: I have "Ad-watch live" in Ad-Aware and it has caught numerous ad-ware on my system !!!!
Cons: It doesn't update by itself like my AVG anti-virus does and it takes a while to start when starting up ( turning on ) your computer.
Summary: A great adware finder and hey, it's free !!!!!!!! A really great product overall.
- Write review
Submit your review
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Ad-aware,
- Internet security,
- Lavasoft,
- Real-Time,
- protection
Previous Versions:
