Ad-Aware Pro Security for Windows

User Reviews

• Avoid the paid version

  GamerKingMarch 28, 2016

  Pros

  It appears to do an acceptable job of protection

  Cons

  The Company is impossible to deal with when something goes wrong.

  Summary

  The product may be OK, but the Company is unbelievably arrogant and indifferent to customer concerns. I purchased two licenses. I had to reformat one of my computers, which erased the system register, and my registration information. So, I simply reinstalled the app, but it announced I had already installed it twice and would have to purchase another licence. 1. I contacted the Company, and they sent me a new licence--for a FREE version. 2. After several unpleasant exchanges, in which they implied I was trying to cheat them, they announced they had no record of my registration. 3. I still had the registration email, which I forwarded to them. (incidentally, it was the same email address that I had been using to contact them.) 4. They eventually sent a new registration code, but NO EXPLANATION, NO APOLOGY. Nothing! My advice is that you may want to use their free version, but you should think twice before buying the paid version from a Company that has no sense of integrity or customer service.

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• close to a scam

  mppenn18March 22, 2016

  Pros

  I assume it worked when it was there.

  Cons

  Program seemed to vanish. I called then, and they have no record of me purchasing. Sometime passes, and I get an email saying I am being billed. I attempt to respond to email, and they say it was being billed by a third party company(not able to contact) and that I need to contact them . Attempts at contacting this company has not been successful.

  Summary

  Do no not have anything to do with this company. They take no responsibility for their product, but seem to get billing out fine.

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• Ad-Aware is malware

  February 5, 2015

  Pros

  Hmm............

  Cons

  I forgot that Ad-Aware had itself become malware and paid them $18. Don't do it!!!! It didn't find anything and now I can't get their safe search to go away.

  Summary

  Don't do it!!!!

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• Doesn't work with Windows 8, tech support also a waste.

  RZacharyJanuary 18, 2014

  Pros

  cheap but nothing more

  Cons

  Pay for additional services but they don't work with Windows 8. If you call their tech support you get Solid Tech. This group wants exorbitant amounts of money to fix things. They promise your everything will be fixed. Your computer will be like new. It's guaranteed. They tried but the Lavasoft features still don't work ("Wait for the next Lavasoft upgrade"). Had a very slow boot problem they said they with "definately" fix. On this I got "We contacted Microsoft, that is a well known issue, wait for Windows 8.2" If it was a well known issue, shouldn't Solid Tech have known and not guaranteed to fix it. On a second computer, long hard drive delays were not fixed either. Emailed about the supposed these problems and the guarentee but they say to call. Called for two days and they do not answer. Left message as instructed and waited the three hours they described but for two days, they have not called back.

  Summary

  Don't pay for extra features of Lavasoft if you have Windows 8. Don't pay Solid Tech for support, they didn't fix any of the problems they promised to fix on both of my computers.

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• Loss of functionality

  SVDiomedeaNovember 7, 2013

  Pros

  Some features from version 10

  Cons

  Loss of functionality

  Summary

  I'm surprised at the strong reviews this software has gotten from CNET and others when one of the most functional portions of the program was removed in the current upgrade. This is the ability for Ad-Aware to alert users when programs are trying to access the internet and allow the user to allow or block those programs and establish rules for the future. WHY this function was removed has not been disclosed, but most people would agree that having this function is important for identify and information protection. I left AVG to switch to Ad-Aware, but I'm probably going to switch back because Zone Alarm has this functionality and Ad-Aware 11 does not

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• Good Product

  XizhiiteOctober 9, 2013

  Pros

  Reliable, fast and uses minimal system resources.

  Cons

  None. This product works as promised.

  Summary

  I have a life-time license that Lavasoft now refuses to acknowledge after giving me free updates for over 13 years! I even have emails from them telling me how to keep renewing Ad-Aware Pro for free. However the last time I requested the new license key, they denied having ever offered this arrangement. After sending them emails from their own service representatives as proof, they simply offered a free one-year license which I refused. Have you had a similiar experience? How was it resolved? Share your experience and expose this gross illegal action on the part of Lavasoft. Shame them publicly and force them to protect their lifetime customers! We are the people who purchased legitimate licenses when Lavasoft was new and unknown. They then offered us lifetime licenses to support them and now after many years pretend we don't exist.

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• Great Product

  XizhiiteOctober 2, 2013

  Pros

  Reliable, Fast, Minimum System Resources.

  Cons

  Some features are offered that are ONLY available in USA: Secure Banking for example. This seems unfair for the rest of us.

  Summary

  My beef with Lavasoft is that I had a life-time license agreement and now they refuse to honour it. I have verification from them by email that I have such a license but the last time I asked for a new key for Ad-Aware Pro they denied ever having such an arrangement. When I sent them the confirmation email that they sent me 6 years ago, they simply said that this has now been terminated and offered me a one year free license which I refused. Did anyone else ever have this same experience? What was your outcome? I still want to have my lifetime license honoured but don't know what else to do. If you have any suggestions, feel free to contact me directly at hlctaipei@gmail.com I really feel that Lavasoft has been low class in handling this matter since I have had the license renewed continuously for at least the past 13 years and now they just quit on me.

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• Ad removal appears to be the cover for many more.

  OldGrumpySeptember 29, 2013

  Pros

  In the past, Ad-Aware has been a good product to suppress un-wanted advertising.

  Cons

  This particular download incorporates a whole host of other programs, both announced and unannounced. You may want them, you may not. Just know that your download will include a whole lot more than just an update of the little old harmless Ad-Aware, which once did a fine job suppressing unwanted advertising

  Summary

  I am surprised that CNet even has such a program available on its site for downloading, especially without advising its patrons that the Ad-Aware download will involve a whole lot more than just simply Ad-Aware. I have relied on CNet in the past to separate the genuine from the come-ons, the legitimate from those seeking to invade your privacy as well as your identity and finances. I am very disappointed that they seemed to have missed the fact that a download of AD-Aware downloads a whole lot of other things which may or may not be harmful. I didn't keep any of them, including Ad-Aware itself long enough (I hope) to find out. Nor was it easy to remove many of the programs included with this Trojan Horse, and many were hidden under names entirely unrelated to AdAware.

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• will not uninstall

  pixelfxOctober 8, 2012

  Pros

  I have used this program for some time and it does protect, just make sure you will never want to uninstall.

  Cons

  will not uninstall, cannot delete folders even in safe mode. To uninstall just reinstall your operating system and reinstall all your software and files. =(

  Summary

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• Great product.

  smitanirulaSeptember 17, 2012

  Pros

  Using it for a year now. No problems. Good investment.

  Cons

  Not that I am aware of.

  Summary

  I would recommend it. Try the trial version and if you like it, buy it!

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