Entered CNET Catalog: 12/12/2007
SKU: CNETLavasoftAd-Aware2007
Manufacturer: Lavasoft
Product summary
The good: Ad-Aware 2007 has finally updated its interface.
The bad: Ad-Aware 2007 doesn't offer antivirus protection, and it doesn't detect or remove spyware in CNET Labs' tests.
The bottom line: Spyware has evolved rapidly over the last few years, but Ad-Aware 2007 seems slow and has fallen behind the times.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/14/2007
Editors' note: On March 5, 2008, CNET revised its antispyware review ratings to emphasize a product's ability to remove spyware. The new ratings are based on the following formula: Installation (20 percent), Features (20 percent), Performance (50 percent), and Support (10 percent). In most cases a product's rating went down, expanding the range between highest and lowest rated.
Lavasoft Ad-Aware 2007 came in dead last in our CNET antispyware testing. Other than sporting a new interface, this long-awaited update doesn't feel much different than earlier versions. What cripples this release most is that Ad-Aware failed to detect half of the test spyware, either actively or on demand, and, unlike nine out of the 10 other antispyware apps we reviewed in December 2007, Ad-Aware left behind traces for all but one spyware. With such a detection and low removal rate, it's hard to get too excited by the latest iteration of this classic antispyware app. Also, with the exception of Microsoft Windows Defender, Ad-Aware remains one of the few well-known antispyware apps not to include (or provide the option of) antivirus protection. In a rapidly evolving market, Ad-Aware seems to have fallen way behind the times.
All versions of Ad-Aware 2007 run on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista (32-bit). There is a free version, but with that version, expect to find all features other than antispyware scanning turned off. The paid version, Ad-Aware Plus 2007, costs $29.95 for a one-year single-user license; Ad-Aware Pro costs $39.95 for a single-year license. The higher price points activate more features within the basic product, with Pro being more advanced than Plus.
Features in the paid products include a host file editor, Registry-blocking shields, and a system-restore point.
For antispyware protection, Ad-Aware 2007 came in last place in our current CNET antispyware tests. CNET Labs conducts three separate tests using spyware found to be bundled within free applications rejected by CNET Download.com (as part of its software policies, Download.com does not host applications containing known spyware). In the first test, active detection, Ad-Aware 2007 detected only 50 percent of the spyware; in the second, on-demand, test, Ad-Aware 2007 detected a dismal 25 percent of the spyware; and in the final, removal, test, Ad-Aware 2007 removed all traces for only 10 percent of the spyware in our test.
Support for Ad-Aware 2007 includes a generous 60-page manual, missing from most antispyware products this year. Online e-mail service is available along with an active community forum and several FAQs. But there is no telephone support offered.
Given the low detection and removal rate for this iteration of Ad-Aware 2007, we can not recommend it, given that for $19.95 Sunbelt CounterSpy 2.0 gives you top-notch antispyware protection along with several other tools including antivirus protection.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22out of 22 user reviews
It is not so useful
Pros: It is free to use. I take it from the Buyfastsoftware.com online store
Cons: Manually scan. Doesn't block spyware
out of 22 user reviews
A truly useful product. Excellent!
Pros: Cleaned files that other programs did not find.
Cons: In the free version, it would be nice to have a bit more functionality.
out of 22 user reviews
Worst malware program ever. What the hell happened?!
Pros: It gives me another program to complain about.
Cons: .....it's just awful...there are no good points that i can think of. and i curse whoever released this worthless program to actually have to USE this prograam forever..
out of 22 user reviews
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
Pros: None that I can find
Cons: The older version was just fine
Always get an error message when I try to update so I am not sure if I am using current or last month's definitions.
2007 always shuts down Mozilla Firefox when it starts. I would appreciate the option thank you!
Slow, memory hog!
Ad-Aware....what were you thinking??
out of 22 user reviews
2007 Suck Diddly Uck Diddly Ucks!
Pros: THERE ARE NO PROS TO 2007.
Cons: Um diddly UM. It doesn't work!
I read somewhere on here that 2007 is "Bloatware?" Guess it runs on your system all the time and is a big space hawg?
So what the heck am I supposed to do? And it must be compatible with Norton as well. (Stupid Norton)
out of 22 user reviews
What happened to Lavasoft?
Pros: Nothing at all
Cons: Slow, hangs up, hog
out of 22 user reviews
WHAT A PIECE OF GARBAGE
Pros: NICE NEW INTERFACE
Cons: HOW ABOUT WORKING
LAVASOFT WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH THIS EFFORT. CNET MUST HAD THE PRO VERSION TO RATE IT AS HIGH AS IT DID. DEFITELY NOT RECOMMENDED.
out of 22 user reviews
Avoid and terrible
Pros: The def file can be used by ad-aware Se
Cons: Not effective, runs as service
out of 22 user reviews
NEW 2007 AD-AWARE IS COMPLETE RUBBISH
Pros: NONE AT ALL
Cons: IT JUST DOES NOT WORK
out of 22 user reviews
Installed and Removed within 30 min.
Pros: Older version on another computer works fine
Cons: Download came with SpyShredder and I can't get rid of it!
out of 22 user reviews
A serious step backward
Pros: saves time by not downloading updates
Cons: No definition updates
out of 22 user reviews
I can't tell if it's doing any good
Pros: It's free.
Cons: Is it working? Why does it stop? What's it doing?
Updates aren't automatic anymore in the free version. In fact when I run Update I can't tell if it's updating.
Lavasoft, you buried a lot of stuff to work behind the scenes. I don't like that. I want to see what you're doing, what your removing from where and why.
out of 22 user reviews
Used to be the greatest, its done !
Pros: none any more
Cons: the whole package
out of 22 user reviews
A good product but it lacks speed.
Pros: It can detect more spyware than the SE personal version and is more reliable for Vista users.
Cons: It's less navigable than the previous version and slows down the computer during scans.
out of 22 user reviews
Dumps my login cookies
Pros: Finds a lot of tracking cookies
Cons: Lumps the login cookies along with tracking cookies
out of 22 user reviews
Big step backwards from SE
Pros: Free, that's about it
Cons: Big, slow and buggy
out of 22 user reviews
SE was so usefull, 2007 is just junk!
Pros: Pretty graphics?
Cons: it freezes when you get 7/8th thru scan!
out of 22 user reviews
something great morphs into something worthless
Pros: none that i saw
Cons: slow buggy, freezes, hard to close
out of 22 user reviews
Read any c|net reviews? Lately?
Pros: Rated #1 -- when googled as "CNET antispyware testing"
Cons: none identified.
out of 22 user reviews
Ad-Aware 2007
Pros: none so far
Cons: freezes my computer
out of 22 user reviews
I was told by a tech to get rid of it because it sold address
Pros: Absolutely none
Cons: I don't trust it
out of 22 user reviews
Tried but not accepted.
Pros: Nice interface.
Cons: Heavy (very!) for the system.
