- CNET editors' rating: stars
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Average user rating:
stars
out of 11077 votes
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- Quick specs
- Price: Free; paid upgrade available
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
- Date added: October 13, 2009
- Total Downloads: 335,581,515
- Downloads last week: 309,557
- See full specifications
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on October 11, 2009
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 isn't yet perfect.
Building on the improvements made in version 8, former Ad-Aware users should be glad to hear that the program installs faster than it used to. Without a doubt, though, this version of Ad-Aware improves greatly on what has come before. It loads faster during your boot cycle, and scans are faster. 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 three 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.
New users should note that Ad-Aware Free performs faster than integrated antivirus and antimalware programs in part because only the paid version of Ad-Aware comes with an antivirus engine. Other important features are disabled in the free version. While rootkit detection is present, behavior-based heuristics and real-time registry protection are not. Ad-Aware Free cannot scan networked drives, and even a basic feature like the scheduler remains off-limits to nonpaying customers. The proprietary real-time defender Ad-Watch Live has been reconfigured to run more smoothly in the background, however, and long-time fans will notice the change. Ad-Aware continues to make improvements and seems to be unwilling to rest on its malware-removing laurels, but the free version is undeniably hamstrung.
Watch the CNET video review of Ad-Aware Free:Publisher's description
From Lavasoft :With behavior-based threat detection and integrated real-time monitoring, Ad-Aware focuses on core consumer security needs. Instead of adding layers of bells and whistles--thereby slowing your computer and scans down--we have decided to focus on what really matters. Ad-Aware provides advanced threat protection, and is significantly lighter and faster than our previous versions.
What's new in this version:
Version 8.1.0 includes new anti-malware technology with new Genotype detection and behavior-based heuristics, new usability features that allow you to tailor the program to fit your needs, and the community collaboration that will allow you to customize Ad-Aware to your needs.More popular Spyware Removers downloads
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.8 stars out of 11077 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 11 user reviewsSee all 11 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0
"it`s a failure, I,m returning to Ad-Aware AE"
Pros: It,s free is all i can say for this version period.
Cons: Huge download On HP XP sp3 and Hp laptop Xp-pro.
Horrible slow install on 2 Ghz machine.
still scanning after an hour in smart scan mode.
It has mow locked up.
has only scanned 1706 objects.
Getting almost exact result on 175 ghz laptop as well.Summary: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0 reminds me of the Beta testing Ad-Aware 2007.
This one is a flop, needs some updating.
i will try the updated version when available... -
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0
"New edition hangs mid-scan when doing a full scan."
Pros: Previous editions worked ok. I have reinstalled the Anniversary Edition.
Cons: Can't give this edition any points if it can't scan without locking up. After installing 3 times and trying to run a scan, I finally gave up.
Summary: Fix the bugs and then I'll try upgrading again.
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Version: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0
"Great software for free. stopped a few bad things 4 me."
Pros: I like how fast the scan is, it has an automatic update available display on screen but doesn't update on its own. usually finds bad cookies that aren't wanted. has a cookie sweet feature getting rid of all cookies. no a processing power hog.
Cons: It has thought a few programs that iv put on were malware. I just said for it not to preform any action and it doesnt come put in the scans more then once. I cant complain much. Thought of upgrading to the paid version.
Summary: Good product for no money. thanks guys for making this software available and working good.
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3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0
"The program is good as always but the interface sucks."
Pros: Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition and this one work as well as Ad-Aware 2008, berhaps even etter.
Cons: After Ad-Aware 2008 (Version 7.1.0.12) they prevented users from maximising the interface. BAD! I hate that except in certain circumstances.
Summary: I will NOT upgrade until the maximised interface is available.
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Ad-Aware Free 8.1.0
Pros: None, it hasn't worked yet.
Cons: Objects detected during scan, tells me to double click taskbar icon to open program but no matter how many different ways I try it won't open
Summary: Completely useless.
- See all 11 user reviews Write review
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