License: Free
Editor's Rating:
Average User Rating: (out of 9810 votes)
Downloads: 292,941,039
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista
Limitations: No limitations
Date Added: May 21, 2008



Publisher's description of Ad-Aware 2008

From Lavasoft:    Withthe ability to scan your RAM, Registry, hard drives, and externalstorage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and trackingcomponents, Ad-Aware 2008 can clean your system easily, allowing you tomaintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web.
Ad-Aware2008 includes an improved threat detection, enhanced rootkit removalsystem, faster updates, Lavasoft ThreatWork to submit suspicious filesfor analysis, and is now compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit WindowsVista.



Editor's review of Ad-Aware 2008

     Great protection with a catch        
One of the first applications built to find and remove adware and spyware, Ad-Aware's excellent reputation is well-justified.While the 2007 edition is still free, it does have some new featuresthat may make you reconsider the height of the pedestal it sits on.
Firstoff, the app's updater is now permanently on, running in your system'sbackground. The irony of Ad-Aware running potential spyware is not loston us. The interface has also been completely overhauled, and it's abit more confusing. There are six tabs in the nav bar. Status and Scaninitiate adware scans and finish with a line-item list so you canselect which components to remove and create a system restore point.The context menu offers some information about suspected adware, thoughit's light on details.
Other navbar buttons include Ad-Watch,offering real-time defenses but only in the paid version. Plug-ins aredisabled in the free version, but the Tools and Plug-ins tab hostsTrackSweep, the new browsing tracks cleaner. Smoothly integrated intothe app, it wipes the cache, cookies, and history, and otherbreadcrumbs left by major browsers. We couldn't help but notice,though, that the Web Update tab, which controls definition file andsoftware updates, ran far more sluggishly than in previous editions,and sometimes even crashed the program.
The Settings tabprovides access to autoscans, browsers, scanning, the interface, andlog files. The app does an excellent job of removing most malwarecomponents, although rescanning is necessary for a seriously infectedmachine. The freeware restrictions are mildly irritating, but they'renothing compared with some of the serious stability and backgroundprocesses in the 2007 version. However, it is a fully functional adwareremover, and it continues to do that well. With some hesitation, werecommend Ad-Aware 2007 as part of your arsenal.



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