Protect your credit card details from the Internet! (Ad-aware)

Member Name: ross88guy

Product:	Ad-aware
Date:	22/06/06 (377 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its free and is the best software i have found!

Disadvantages: Basic version doesn't act as a firewall for spyware!

----What is Spyware------

In case you didn't know, the range of products made by Lavasoft, are designed to seek and remove programs which monitor your actions without your knowledge or permission. These pieces software are collectively called "spyware" and include, malicious and invasive software that may harm your computer, be used to gather your bank and credit card details or just monitor your online surfing for the benefit of advertising companies. Spyware not only is an invasion of privacy, it can also slow our computer down by clogging up your computer and impending its ability to run multiple programs (ram). There can be thousands of pieces of spyware on your computer and you may not even know they are there.

------Do you have spyware?------

Signs you have such programs running on your computer are:
· Slow Internet connection speed, well below your normal speed. (can also be caused by firewall software)
· When you type in an unrecognised address in your address bar you are redirected to unknown search pages or other websites.
· Your computer may take an excessively long time to start up, as in effect your computer is loading up a multitude of programs. However this may be due to a number of other factors as well, including ant virus software and old age!
· Pop ups may be getting through your blockers.
· Lots of Spam email getting into your inbox.
· Some programs may not be able to run.
· Some programs (especially AOL refuse to close down on turning off the computer)
· Settings are being changed on your computer which you do not remember changing yourself!

------Free version------

As I have said the basic version of the program, Adaware SE, is perfect for finding spyware and getting rid of it. However its main weakness is that it cannot prevent it coming back, and most of the time, within a few minuets of surfing, your hard drive will be clogged again.

I found this a huge problem, as I would be online on average for 7 hours a day on my laptop and would leave my desktop on for days at a time, downloading. As I used to use a variety of p2p file sharing programs, I would have a huge problem with spyware. It got to the point where I had so much on my computer after a week of downloading that the computer would freeze, refuse to respond, and I would get massages popping up every few seconds trying to sell me various drugs!

I have used the free version of the Adaware software for many years and never had any problems with it. I would recommend the software to everyone, simply because it is free, reliable and does the job it is designed to do with no hassle.

------Adaware SE professional------

Adaware SE professional has many extra features which when combined, act to completely protect your computer from any form of spyware.
The ad-watch feature is a separate program which is like a firewall for spyware and prevents any such programs from getting from the Internet to your computer in the first place. This is extremely useful if you are running any p2p or other file sharing programs as it stops the multitude of malicious files which are trying to get to you through these programs. You can also set your preferred level of alerting, so you can be alerted if you have been attacked by a serious program. This means you can see what websites are the most dangerous and avoid them, if needed to on other computers.

------Features of Both versions------

Adaware also alerts you to any updates published by Lavasoft, which take around 10seconds to download with a broadband connection, and is done by the program itself (no annoying opening of browser windows) which ensures you stay protected from any new types of spyware.

There is also the ability to download extensions and plugins, such as language packs, which enable the program to be run on any operating system or make of computer.

Another useful feature is the process watch function which is included in the free basic version of the program but is always nice to have. This is the same as windows task manager but is a lot more reliable and efficient and will give you no time delay on ending processes and no irritating system messages.

The program keeps an archive off all the spyware it removes and stops, so you can see what it is doing. I personally have had 1336 files removed in the past three months and have had 2 browser hijack attempts. I have also had 312 attempt to find out my identity, so it's always nice to know you are getting what you are paying for.

------How do I use it?------

The ad-watch program of adaware professional should be set to load up on start up, as this means you are protected when your Internet connects, this is the most vulnerable time as your computer is exposed as anti virus software may not have loaded up.
It will run without you knowing it is there and will take up virtually no CPU space, and will not slow your computer down as other alternative software might.

If you have just bought the software, Adaware will scan your computer for spyware which is already there. This, you can do manually of for any reason you have to turn the software off (which you shouldn't) by opening up the program and clicking on the smart scan option. This will find any spyware which may be nestled in your registry and will pick up any that may have hijacked a lift on any files you have downloaded, in about 5minuets. Then you will be given the option to delete not only the spyware found, but also the files which may threaten your anonymity, such as cookies, tempory files and your list of recently opened documents opened in both windows and media player.
If the program cannot delete the files, it will quarantine them and delete them when you next turn on your computer. This may occur if you have any in your registry.

------Do I need it?------

The answer is yes. The basic program is free and available from www.download.com. And although this will get rid of any spyware on your computer, Adaware SE pro will stop any more getting into your computer. I would advise these categories of people to get it:

· If you surf the Internet a lot, and access a lot of suspect sites, i.e. not big well known sites.
· If you do a lot of shopping online or frequently do you're banking or exchange credit card details over the Internet.
· If you use file sharing programs (defiantly)
· If you leave your computer on for long periods of time unattended.
· If you have a network of computers, or have a company intranet.

These are the categories of surfers that are most at risk

------I have anti virus software, do I still need this?------

Again the answer is yes. Spyware is not malicious in most cases and will not be stopped by your firewall software or picked up by your anti virus software. However it can undermine your security systems and provide hackers with a back door into your computer. You will need some kind of anti spyware software to ensure your online safety.

------Ok so I need it, how much does it cost and where can I get it from?------

The professional software can be bought directly of the programmers website
www.lavasoft.com
for $39.95. Or from most large p.c retailers such as p.c world.

Summary: Adaware removes any spyware simply and easily.

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