Ad-aware

Type of Program: Spyware Detector/Remover
Supported Platforms: Windows 95/98, 2000, ME
Company Name: LavaSoft
Version: 4.02
Price: Freeware
Installed Size: 98 kb

Download/Homepage

Remember when I told you about OptOut? Well, here's another program that does about the same thing, but I think does it better.

To begin with, Ad-aware detects more types of spyware (Adware; Alexa; Aureate v. 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0; Comet Cursor v1.0 and v2.0; Cydoor; Doubleclick; DSSAgent; Flyswat; Gator; TimeSink v. 1.0, 2.0; Web3000; Webhancer), can be started from a scheduler, and can create logfiles automatically. You can also set Ad-aware to run minimized in the background and to automatically run a scan at Windows startup.

I have now used Ad-aware for about a month without incident. I do not, however, have the program set up to automatically detect and remove all spyware; I like to make the decision over what is removed (a control thing!). Even the Ad-aware homepage warns to use the automatically detect and remove settings with care, a warning I wholeheartedly second.

Ad-aware is easily installed and configured, and a joy to use. The user interface is clean and clear. I recommend Ad-aware and give it a five star rating!

Performance
User Friendly
Cost
Ease of Installation
Support
Reviewed by Angelene

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