Be aware of spyware with Ad-Aware (Ad-aware)

Member Name: Morgenhund

Product:	Ad-aware
Date:	19/06/01 (1741 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: freeeware (apart from the pro version), easy to use

Disadvantages: none yet

I had used Opt Out (by GRC), a freeware application for quite a while to detect the assorted spyware nasties, which had deposited their payloads on my hard drive, as cookies, files and registry entries, but was faced with a dilemma as what to do when support for Opt Out ended. Very magnanimously the author of Opt Out was quick to promote the freeware program Ad Aware, which was at that stage at version 4.5

Lavasoft have since released Version 5 of the software and the latest version is Version 5.5b, and the product is still freeware, with 5.5b having been released on 16th June 2001. The latest version is a single download of 837k, which includes a pattern file, and pattern files appear on the website (www.lavasoft.de) as released. Ad-Aware works on Win95,98 ME, NT4.0 or Windows 2000, although for NT4.0 and 2000 you will require admin status to run the program properly

One problem however is the fact that certain advertising sponsored programs, e.g. Gator or Go!Zilla, both of which are notorious for their spyware content, cannot function probably once the spyware programs have been removed. However I would advocate removing these nasties any way (see my ops on them for further reasons!).

Ad Aware can detect a wide range of spyware, with the most common spyware systems being Adware, Alexa, Aureate, Comet Cursor (see my damning op!), Cydoor, Doubleclick, DSSAgent, EverAd, Gratisware, OnFlow, Flyswat, Gator (smack that crocodile!!!), Hotbar, NewDotNet, TimeSink, Web3000 and Webhancer amongst others.

The software is very easy to use, with a wizard style set-up so that it is straightforward to set up how you want the software to scan your system. There is a choice of a normal registry scan and a deep registry scan, as well as a scan for modules running in the system tray (hidden ones too…) and you can choose which drives to check on your system. Once a spyware item has been identified, you can choose whether to remove it or not a
t the end of the scan, as well as whether to save the logfile produced. One big improvement from version 4.5 is the fact that you can do a system backup before you wipe the components, allowing you to restore the system settings rather than having to mess about with lengthy reconfiguration and installation processes. You can also create a list of components to ignore, so if you can’t live without Go!Zilla or Gator or similar programs, you don’t have to reinstall them.

Similarly it is possible to choose for the program to run automatically at start-up and if you purchase the pro version, there is also a realtime protection system, called AdWatch, so that you can be warned if a program is attempting to install spyware on your system, and you can prevent it. The full version costs a $15 registration fee, and there are further details on the website, as well as details of other software that Lavasoft have produced. If you ever visit Warez sites then you will soon realise that AdAware is well worth having as it gets rid of copious nasty cookies that are set as a result. This is a must for all systems and it is free, and very stable. Download it now!

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