Entered CNET Catalog: 04/27/2005
SKU: CNETLAVASOFTADAWARESEPERSONAL
Manufacturer: Lavasoft
Manufacturer description
Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. With the release of Ad-Aware SE Personal edition, Lavasoft takes the fight against Spyware to the next level. With Lavasoft's all new Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology, you will not only be protected from known content, but will also have advanced protection against many of their unknown variants. To further protect you, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition also has the capability to scan and list Alternate Data Streams (ADS) in NTFS enabled volumes. In combination with the new scanning engine, Ad-Aware SE will scan your computer faster and more thoroughly than ever before! Ad-Aware SE Personal edition is hardened against third party uninstall with encrypted preference files.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/13/2006
This latest version of Ad-aware SE runs faster than previous versions, and it finds and deletes even more illicit programs that track your surfing and cause many of those annoying pop-up ads. With its light use of resources and thorough scans, Ad-aware also beats paid antispyware programs, such as McAfee AntiSpyware. In addition to providing a more robust scanning engine, Ad-aware now sports a sleek new interface that makes the program more attractive and extremely simple to use. Ad-aware's custom skins let you change the look and feel of the app in a variety of ways.
Downloading and installing Ad-aware SE Personal took only a few minutes. It's best to run a full system scan the first time you use Ad-aware. After that, it's much faster to use the Smart Scan option, which checks only files that have recently changed on your hard drive. Both the free and paid versions of Ad-aware are highly configurable, with more options and choices than you'd expect. The default settings work great with most systems, though, and unless you have an unusual situation, you shouldn't have to fiddle with any settings.
If you've been using your PC on the Internet without any spyware protection, you'll probably be amazed at how many offending programs Ad-aware finds. Unfortunately, the process of removing offending apps with Ad-aware can be confusing at times because Ad-aware doesn't provide much helpful information about the suspect spyware it marks for quarantine. For example, it doesn't identify which applications might need a suspected spyware/adware component in order to run. But don't worry, Ad-aware doesn't entirely remove the spyware, just quarantines it in a secure folder, so if for some reason you actually needed one of those adware components, you could easily reinstall it later within Ad-aware.
In testing performed by CNET Download.com, Ad-aware SE Plus performed one of the fastest full-system scans, clocking in at mere 11 minutes, 30 seconds. It was also one of the most accurate, with Ad-aware identifying the biggest threats in our test group. Ad-aware also picked up one item that appeared to be a false positive not detected by any of the other programs in our tests. In the end, Ad-aware SE Plus left only a couple of fairly harmless spyware elements on our test machine.
Our only gripe is with regard to Lavasoft's paltry support options--both free and paid. E-mail technical support is not available for the free version, of course, but the online support area on Lavasoft's Web site is also underwhelming to say the least. That said, the program is pretty easy to use and the integrated help system is complete and should be able to answer most questions.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
4/10
stops working
Pros: free and works good for awhile
Cons: locked up my computer, could not uninstall or stop it from running,
User Rating: 
1/10
Does not work!
Pros: There are no pros to a program that won't even load
Cons: Anniversary Edition sign starts to load but then stops.
User Rating: 
6/10
Sounds good but can't find it
Pros: Sounds good from the reviews
Cons: Can't find anywhere to download it
Any suggestions?
User Rating: 6/10
Slooow but decent
Pros: Seems to get the job done
Cons: It takes a long time to run this program
User Rating: 
2/10
Worse Tech Support
Pros: Low cost for advertised features.
Cons: Lavasoft has to have the worse technical support I've ever experience.
User Rating: 
8/10
excellent! been using it forever
Pros: picks up tons of stuff my other programs don't
Cons: can be slow sometimes
User Rating: 
5/10
Best of the free
Pros: quite fast,pretty effective.
Cons: not nearly as good as the old version,scan will not work in Zip. files
All in all much less effective.
User Rating: 
9/10
Great Program - Big Problem(s)
Pros: Fast; In-Depth Scanning; Reliable; Easy-To-Use;Great Inter-face
Cons: DO NOT USE AD-WATCH
The one problem I've ever had, cost me well over $3,000 and losts of time, is that when I purchased Ad-Aware fully and it used Ad-Watch... Ad-Watch screwed up and DELETED ALL MY REGISTRY!!! ALL OF IT!!!! OMG!!!
I was like holy-**** and well - I couldn't even boot back up. How did I know it was Ad-Watch? Well, I had a seperate program that monitered registry and notified me of any crucial changes and what it was made by - it said Ad-Watch.exe. I could have just reinstalled windows but decided to just get a new computer.
On my new computer, the same thing happened not even 3 months after. I luckily was able to get to System Restore - restore the computer back to the previus day. Even that didnt help!!!! I ended up having to system restore again and booting into safe mode, going into the Program Files -> Lavasoft -> Ad-Watch and deleting Ad-Watch.exe complitely. When I booted back up, it stopped.
Weird, but 100% true.
User Rating: 2/10
Read in between the lines
Pros: Downloads fast. Find the problems quickly
Cons: Is NOT FREE. If you want to fix more than 20 problems
User Rating: 
7/10
good overal
Pros: fast & helpful
Cons: often can't get new updates
User Rating: 9/10
have been happy until now
Pros: weel-recommended by computer society
Cons: trouble retrieving updates
User Rating: 5/10
Definition Updates are not being made available
Pros: While updates were available, AdAware was excellent in finding spyware that other anti-spyware programs did not catch.
Cons: My only --but BIG! -- complaint is the unavailability of the file updates. I have tried to access them on all three of my computers with the same message: Error retrieving update.
User Rating: 9/10
Amazing Spyware Protection! Best you can get
Pros: Great spyware protection
Cons: takes about 20 minutes to run. but thats not too bad.
User Rating: 9/10
Lavasoft Antispyware
Pros: Excellent !!!
Cons: Superb product
User Rating: 7/10
Great but updates slow
Pros: Does a great job and should be around
Cons: Updates are slow wvwn on a very fast PC
User Rating: 
10/10
The Best Free Anti Spyware
Pros: It's Free But Good
Cons: Have not found one..
User Rating: 
3/10
Outdated and passed by
Pros: It's still free
Cons: Hardly detects anything anymore
Then I tried a free scan with Webroot's Spysweeper and found two items of malware and two trojans, none of which were even detected by any of the above. It's nice that AdAware is free, but it can't compete anymore with the apps you have to pay for. Spysweeper leaves them all in the dust.
User Rating: 3/10
Pass on This
Pros: Easy to install
Cons: Doesn't catch spyware, firwall not intutive, very manual
User Rating: 5/10
Works well, combined with other products provides good protection
Pros: Updates signature automatically, runs pretty quickly, catches most items I want removed
Cons: Ad-aware Personal is stripped of the most useful features, like scheduled scans
User Rating: 8/10
fantastic piece of software, use it all the time
Pros: finds a lot of spyware, really speeds up pc
Cons: find all coockies and says they are critical ellements
I think it does not find all spyware every time, but at least it finds the bulk, so i'm happy. The only downside is that everytime i run the software, a lot of innocent coockies turn up in the results
User Rating: 9/10
Awsome!!!!!!
Pros: great spyware detection, free
Cons: no email support for free version, doesn't scan for all threats by defalt
User Rating: 7/10
Good 3rd AntiSpyware Program
Pros: Removes Spyware
Cons: No Shield and Some Spyware Keeps Coming Back
User Rating: 8/10
ad-aware rocks
Pros: Always up to date, easy use and indepth searches.
Cons: Can't fault it....
User Rating: 2/10
I did not know what malware was until I used this
Pros: It looked like it was working, but I kept finding spyware
Cons: It infected my computer with malware!
User Rating: 10/10
My last straw before reformat.. and it worked!
Pros: Very fast, cleans registry
Cons: Does not display filenames causing problem
User Rating: 8/10
Realy Good (I think)
Pros: Detects more spyware than others!
Cons: Missing real-time protection and auto-update in the free version...
(I would like to have a real-time protection system but I can't afford it during many time [cause I'm 15 years old
])Thanks Lavasoft!
User Rating: 9/10
User Friendly, Seems Complete, Very Effective.
Pros: Found many bugs; programs with dangerous spy features.
Cons: Can't think of any for the basic free version.
User Rating: 8/10
Delete the Backups
Pros: Free up valuble space
Cons: might not let a program run
User Rating: 9/10
Should Be Part of Every Computer
Pros: Finds things other programs don't, simple interface, smart scan very speedy
Cons: Pressure to upgrade, not easy to schedule weekly scans.
The interface is very easy to use for the average end user, but still veratile enough for more advanced users. However, the free version lacks automatic scheduling and upgrading. This still isn't much of a problem though. When you start the program up, it will tell you if your definitions are old, and prompt you to check for updates.
I run Spybot as my main program since I can schedule it, and then run Ad Aware about once a month. It catches a few things Spybot won't, especially spyware in the registry. The smart scan is also very fast, and works well when you are pressed for time or on a slower computer.
This and Spybot should be on every computer. Spyware is now a part of every users life, but Ad Aware makes this much easier to deal with.
User Rating: 8/10
Kill the suckers!
Pros: It's clean and fast.
Cons: It doesn't get everything.
User Rating: 4/10
Good for normal use but when computer is heavily infected hope is lost.
Pros: It's all free, it works fine and almost without problems.
Cons: Has problems with some adware, some odd issues with F-Secure PEX 6 and small database of adware signatures.
When fighting off lots of spyware and such Ad-Aware can't handle all of them. Sometimes adware just isnt recognized or adware attack against Ad-Aware and halts it. When this happens you just need to use some better programs such as Spy Sweeper or Ewido. I would prefer Ewido and for some reason it's not in the review
.There have been some odd cases with Ad-Aware and F-Secure. For some reason Ad-Aware and new F-Secure are not working perfectly together and really odd things might happen. Off course F-Secure PEX 6 has its own engine to disinfect adware but one program is not enough when computer is in heavy use.
Good program but only for regular use. When there is problems I wouldnt count on Ad-Aware because of my experiences. Will see in the future if there would be better signatures of adware.
User Rating: 4/10
OVER-RATED
Pros: NICE INTERFACE, FAST SCANS
Cons: BELOW LEVEL REMOVAL
User Rating: 3/10
good.. except a few things
Pros: a few just like cons
Cons: a few just like pros
adaware gets destroyed by CWS and other malware
windows defender is a good antispyware, but its active scanning isnt perfect.. in fact someone installed a backdoor without my knowledge, but luckily i scanned and deleted it a minute after its creation
User Rating: 3/10
No Longer Removes Gator Stuff
Pros: Not Available
Cons: Not Available
User Rating: 10/10
if you want you in control of your pc...
Pros: it works and that is all
Cons: none whatsoever
User Rating: 8/10
good anti spyware
Pros: free, removes most spyware
Cons: still misses some spyware, adware
So stick with the free one. And....check the box that says SEARCH FOR LOW RISK THREATS witch you can find when you press SCAN NOW tab.
User Rating: 9/10
Easy to use on clients machines
Pros: Ease of use and works well with the other software I use to safe guard my systems
Cons: For the price I haen't found any cons. It dose a fairly good job...
User Rating: 8/10
Gets rid of excess spyware and hidden material on PC
Pros: Very easy to install , personalize, set up and use
Cons: honestly have not found any yet
User Rating: 10/10
Excellent totally free product.
Pros: Free---easy--quick--concise-ev en for a novice
Cons: Download time, time between updates (although not bad)
They are continously improving their product, including functionality and definition upgrades.
2 Big Toes Up!
User Rating: 8/10
A Very Good Anti-Spyware Utility
Pros: Was Finding Stuff While everything else was quiet
Cons: The Truth I dont know as much as this Utility Does!
User Rating: 7/10
Lavasoft is for adware and Spybot is for spyware. Use both.
Pros: Good gor detection of Adware, frequent updates.
Cons: Not so good for cleaning of Spyware. The resilient client takes too much resources on some systems (up to 10%)
Lavasoft has it's advantages over Spybot at least as a better option for cleaning adware. And that is in the name. IN contrary, Spybot &co is software for removal of spyware. Read name. So wheres the confusion. I use both and I cant imagine use one or the other only. In terms of offering to upgrade to FULL VERSION - Well that's completely normal, at least you have a decent product that is not been stripped down. If you visit xxx-sites, then you need a resilient client get Microsoft Antispyware. It's also free and it's from Microsoft. If you talk about dirty tricks you should have a look at them. Good luck.
User Rating: 2/10
Mostly adequate, but not infallible
Pros: Installs & uninstalls with ease; runs fairly quickly; details problems clearly; configurable if you install optional Tweak add-in.
Cons: Resident subprogram (Ad-watch) requires purchased version; spyware found is detailed individually (instead of grouping items related to a single product together); only partially removes baddest bugs.
User Rating: 9/10
excellant product
Pros: does the job
Cons: no cons on this product
User Rating: 9/10
Truly great antispyware
Pros: Free, fast. and thorough
Cons: None we can think of
User Rating: 9/10
Ad-Aware is the best IMHO.
Pros: More updates, fast engine, finds most of the spyware out there.
Cons: Support is lacking on free version.
User Rating: 9/10
Still say Ad-Aware is better
Pros: Always finds more spyware than any other I've tried
Cons: None- never had any complaints
User Rating: 8/10
Easy to use and reliable
Pros: Quick and easy setup, easy updates
Cons: Not exactly intuitive on the "select all" right click to clean
User Rating: 9/10
This is great
Pros: This is great
Cons: This is great
User Rating: 9/10
Saved my computer!
Pros: Got rid of everything slowing down my laptop, easy to use, saved my computer
Cons: It saved my computer, no excuse to upgrade!
Now I'm mad because I can't convince the wife to let me buy a new computer...
User Rating: 1/10
the company sucks
Pros: software itself is good
Cons: no customer support
User Rating: 3/10
Mixed bag for latest version of SE.
Pros: Works well to take care of adware
Cons: It is flawed with a virus
User Rating: 8/10
Fast, quick updates
Pros: Easy and frequent updates, new 1.06 fast and complete
Cons: Have to pay to get Ad Watch but I hear it's outstanding also
User Rating: 10/10
sweet little app
Pros: works great
Cons: I didnt find it sooner
