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Read a CNET review of the full version of Lavasoft Ad-Aware.
One of the first applications built to find and remove adware and spyware, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition's excellent reputation is well justified. The sky-blue, skinnable interface features five buttons. The first two, Status and Scan, lead to the core function of the application. These buttons initiate a scan of your files for adware components. After scanning is complete, the program presents a summary of results, followed by a list from which you select exactly which components to remove. Right-clicking an individual entry gives some information about the piece of suspected adware, though we would like more details.
Ad-Aware SE can alert you to more malignant forms of malware by separating items into critical and negligible categories. The third button, Ad-Watch, is nonfunctional in the Standard version. The fourth button, Plug-ins, shows you which Ad-Aware plug-ins are installed. The fifth leads to the help files.Ad-Aware SE does an excellent job of quickly finding and removing most adware and spyware components, although you will have to restart and rescan for a seriously infected machine. We were pleased to see an auto-update feature included with the program, keeping Ad-Aware up-to-date with the latest adware components. Ad-Aware SE should be part of your arsenal for keeping your machine free of adware and spyware components.
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 SE easily can clean your system, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web.
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition boasts a number of improvements. Extended memory scanning now scans all modules loaded by a process. Scanning uses the all- new CSI (Code Sequence Identification) technology to identify new and unknown variants of known targets. Extended Registry scanning now scans Registry branches of multiple-user accounts and performs additional smart checks to detect dynamically created references. Scanning speed is noticeably faster, and this version offers an Extended Scanning mode for known and unknown/possible browser hijackers.
New in version 1.06: Disk-scan is approximately 30 percent faster. CSI scan is now more efficient. Added "Scan for low-risk threats" option, to scan for targets with low TAC index. Ad-Watch CSI engine performance highly improved; using less CPU and Memory as well as having a smaller footprint. GUI adapted to use the new TAC.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 13,348 votes
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Current version:
4.4 starsout of 1,925 votes
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My rating:
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"STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT."
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
None at all....
Cons
Slows down and clogs your system.
Lavasoft safe search hijacks you browser and replaces the tool bar with Blekko - which many sites are describing as a virus and extremely difficult to get rid of. Blekko is not a legitimate seach engine. Rather, it redirects you to commerical sites (for the purpose of spamming???)Summary
Lavasoft should be ashamed of this product. The Blekko issue alone should be enough to totally ruin their reputation.I tried to remove it with add/remove programs from the control panel but I was still having real issues with Blekko and my computer. I called Lavasoft 800 support number after my two laptops were practically paralyzed from downloading ad aware. I got a tech guy (from India) who said my problems were a result of not correctly uninstalling the software but he said could be fix it. I had to allow him access to my computer through logmein.123 which I did. He then started showing me all the problems that needed to be fixed and that he was going to redirect me to his manager. The manager then told me that my computer was full of corrupt files etc and that I needed to pay $100 to have it fixed otherwise it was serious. I asked him simply to remove the ad aware and the Blekko and I would deal with the rest. He said they would fix nothing unless I paid. I hung up very upset.
I solved the Blekko problems by reconfiguring my browsers and /or uninstalling and reinstalling. I have found several sites which strongly recommend you remove all the vestiges of the intrusive Blekko from your registry as well. -
"Stay away! Hijacks "page not found""
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
After trying ad-aware you'll never use a Lavasoft product again.
Cons
It has a "safe browing" plugin. I deactivated it right away, but even after deinstalling the software, it still hijacks the browser "page not found" redirecting you to an adpage with yahoo search.
If you've been hit with it, you can remove it uninstalling from the control panel the Ad-aware browser toolbar. Even if you choose not to install it, there it is.Summary
Never saw an anti-ad program that hijacks the browser to display ads. The sofware has changed a lot since years have passed and it couldn't have been worse.
More than ad-aware, this is adware. -
"Crashes my system and disables my firewall"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
Works fine, blocks viruses, scans fast, looks good.
Cons
Crashes my system about 50% of the time on startup with "windows system cannot start" error which also disables my firewall and all Windows security features. If I go on the net after that message my computer is wide open to anyone. Only started after I installed Adaware. I removed the product, no more errors or firewall problems. I just can't tolerate that kind of stuff.
Summary
Won't install again, definitely would not spend money on it.
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"the anniversary editions not anywhere near as good"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
looks ok but thats all.
Cons
when it comes to using adaware free ive been using it for years & know it well, the newer anniversary one does not let you have control & wont show you much at all, take my advise & stick with the before one.
Summary
keep with the older version.
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"Great Protection!"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
This program will discover things that even Norton Doesn't fnd.
Cons
I haven't found any cons accept that maybe the pro price can be reduced a little
Summary
This is a very great spyware protection program...easy to use.
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"Cannot get the download to work"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
Cannot get the download to work
Cons
Cannot get the download to work
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"its free downloads what can be bad about it ?"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
its free!
Cons
not every song is free
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"I ONLY PREFFER AVG ANTI VIRUS"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
I CANNOT EXPRESS ABOUT THE PRODUCT, BUT IT IS EXCELENT
Cons
NO DRAWBACK
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"its slows and you cant close if you do its says needs admintrator tools to close"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
The Product could be used in a different setting but not on Games on lines just not good
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"It's very powerfull"
Version: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
Pros
It's very simple
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