Ad-Aware

This article is about the anti-spyware program. For advertising supported software, see Adware.
Lavasoft Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware Antivirus+ 11 Free running under Windows 7.
Developer(s) Lavasoft
Initial release 1999
Stable release 11.5.202.7299 [1] / 19 December 2014 (2014-12-19)
Written in C++, Visual Basic .NET
Operating system Microsoft Windows
Available in Multilingual[2]
Type Spyware removal software
License Proprietary , Freeware
Website Lavasoft.com

Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware and anti-virus program developed by Lavasoft that detects and removes malware, spyware and adware on a user's computer. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware detects spyware, computer viruses, dialers, Trojans, bots, rootkits, data miners, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijackers, and tracking components.[3]

History

Ad-Aware was originally developed in 1999 to highlight web beacons inside of Internet Explorer. On many websites, users would see a tiny pixelated square next to each web beacon, warning the user that the computer's IP address and other non-essential information was being tracked by this website. Over time, Ad-Aware added the ability to block those beacons, or ads. Ad-Aware no longer makes the user aware of the ads on the screen; instead the program fights spyware, adware, viruses and other malware.[4]

In the 2008 Edition, Lavasoft bundled Ad-Aware Pro and Plus for the first time with an antivirus scanner,[5] which used the Avira engine[6] and this arrangement continued for a few years.[7] Starting with Ad-Aware version 10, the Bitdefender antivirus engine was used instead.[8][9][10]

A new wrinkle is adware (using stolen certificates) that disables anti-malware and virus protection such as Ad-Aware; technical remedies are available.[11]

Overview

As of 2014, Lavasoft makes Ad-Aware version 11 available in four core versions:[12]

  1. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+
  2. Ad-Aware Personal Security
  3. Ad-Aware Pro Security
  4. Ad-Aware Total Security[13]

The latest Ad-Aware products have been completely revamped to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors except the core functionalities.

Lavasoft also offers volume licenses of Ad-Aware for businesses,[14] which is designed for use over networks. It has a central server console interface with licences for installing Ad-Aware Pro Security on the networked machines.[15]

Each version includes anti-spyware, antivirus, and anti-rootkit protection, as well as integrated protection against real-time threats. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware allows computer users to combat malicious spyware, viruses, and malware; it protects users from malware that takes control of a computer and can result in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity and the theft of private information. The vendor says that Ad-Aware detects hazardous content on a user's computer, identifies the threat level, and then gives the user the ability to block or remove unwanted content. Ad-Aware Total Security offers extra features that the three core versions do not, primarily: firewall, system tuning, online backup, data recovery, anti-spam and parental controls.[16]

According to PC World Magazine, an older version of Ad-Aware, the Anniversary Edition, could locate only 83.6% of malware in a comparative test carried out by the security firm AV-TEST.[17] However, as the article states, no such tests have been run on the newest version. Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag performed a lab test on version 8.3, where Ad-Aware scored 9.2 points, beating the previous top score of 9.1.[18]

Ad-Aware installs Google Chrome, which will be done automatically unless the user de-selects the tick-box in the Ad-Aware installation program.

Market share

Ad-Aware Free is listed as having been downloaded over 387 million times on download.com (and a total of 450 million times on the Lavasoft site, including downloads that do not originate at download.com) as of December 2014;[19] however, since its primary competition is not downloadable from the same location, a comparison of relative market-share is not possible with these figures.

The paid versions of the product are under threat from more functional and lower cost, even free, competition such as Microsoft Security Essentials.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11.5.202.7299 - History". FileHippo.com. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  2. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free Tech Specs - Lavasoft". Lavasoft. Retrieved 2007-11-09.
  3. ↑ "Ad-Aware User Manual" (PDF). Lavasoft.com. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ad-Aware 10 Early Preview". LavaSoft. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  5. ↑ Hopkins, John A. "Ad-Aware 2008 7.1.0.8 - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com". Download.cnet.com. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  6. ↑ "Page 3 - Ad-Aware Pro Anniversary Edition Review: Computer Security Articles at". Brighthub.com. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  7. ↑ "Ad-Aware v8.1, Powered by People Anti-Malware Protection". Brighthub.com. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  8. ↑ "Ad-Aware Product Comparison". Lavasoft. 22 January 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  9. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ Review". Yahoo! News. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  10. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11". PC Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
  11. ↑ Casey, Henry T. (25 November 2015). "Latest adware disables antivirus software". Tom's Guide. Yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  12. ↑ "New Ad-Aware Internet Security from Lavasoft Puts Power in Hands of People".
  13. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free Antivirus, Antispyware and Anti Malware software. Free trial download.". Lavasoft. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  14. ↑ "Lavasoft Business Friendly". Lavasoft. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "What is Ad-Aware Business Edition?". Lavasoft. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  16. ↑ "Ad-Aware Total Security by Lavasoft - Internet Security Software with Antivirus, Antispyware, Firewall, Parental Control and much more.". Lavasoft. Retrieved 2014-08-27.
  17. 1 2 "Editorial Review of Ad-Aware Pro". PC World (magazine). 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-31.
  18. ↑ Rubenking, Neil J. "Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security 8.3". PC Magazine.
  19. ↑ "Ad-Aware Free". n.d. Retrieved 12 July 2013.

External links

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