In an effort to help with the security issues that computer users face today while surfing on the internet, this thread has been started to give information of various spyware programs.
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Name: Ad-Aware by LavaSoft Genre: Spyware Remover - multicomponent detection and removal utility URL:http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Versions: Free and Pro Products: Ad-Aware SE, Ad-Aware Plus SE, Ad-Adaware Professional SE. Synopsis: LavaSoft was founded in Germany in the 1990s. Two years later it was incorporated with the main office in Sweden. It now has a worldwide presence as one of the top sypware removers. The main focus of the company is to develop quality anti-trackware programs to keep your computer or network free of compromising and intrusive threats to your privacy.
Once downloaded and installed, the Ad-Aware interface is easy to use. It's functionality includes detection and elimination of spyware. When spyware is found, the user can quarantine and delete it. Other basic functionality includes:
Status Center
Plug-ins including HexDump, Explorer, Message-Control, and others (depending on edition)
Ad-Watch (Active & Automatic - logs and prevents suspicious activities while surfing)
Process Watch (monitors and logs computer processes)
Online updates
Other (depending on edition)
Ratings (3 Users):
Interface looks5, great looks with lots of features, everything is just a button or link away.
Ease of use4.33, from scanning to updating, it's simple to find and use what you want.
Ability to discover & prevent problems4.5, finds most spyware in a relatively quick manner.
Ease of eliminating problems5, spyware can be quarantined, and then eliminated.
Use of Resources4.66, not an extreme usuage of system resources but may cause some slowness.
Support4, updates can be downloaded and installed upon demand. I have not needed tech support.
Ad-Aware has been very reliable and may be one of the best known/used spyware detectors and eliminators. It also works well with other spyware detector programs. It's Ad-Watch and Process Watch are great additions to this program.
Note: Ad-Aware 6 will no longer be supported. Be sure to upgrade to SE.
