Ad-Aware

[jmm]

If Windows Defender is running with real-time protection on a machine, what is your opinion about also running Lavasoft's Ad-Aware/Ad-Watch on that machine?

 

[bru]

Not good to run two real time protections.

I used to use AdAware but it seems as if it's seen better days and others do the job better.

IIWM I'd use MSE for realtime and also have MBAM, SAS and SpywareBlaster.

 

[seth500]

I use Malwarebytes and NIS 2011 for my security..

 

[Dinesh]

Ad-aware was very good once. But now I feel its total crap.

 

[gautam7]

IMO Its useless in comparison to MBAM, SAS or Hitman pro.

 

[bru]

Ad-aware was very good once. But now I feel its total crap.

Back in the day Ad-Aware along with Spybot seemd to be the preferred choices. I used both for on demand scanning but once I got the new computer I never bothered with either. Too many better choices now. I did vote "Somewhat useful" as it's probably better than not using anything.

Based on cnet's download numbers many still feel both are good to use. To each their own .

 

[Corrine]

Lulu Software Acquired Lavasoft/Ad-Aware

@bru, those numbers at C|Net and other download locations are cumulative. Thus, those numbers include downloads from when AAW was first listed there so I wouldn't advise anyone putting any credence in the download numbers.

Hi, jmm.

As an Administrator with well over 10,000 posts at the original Lavasoft Support Forums (taken off line by then CEO, Ann-Christine Åkerlund), I lost faith in Ad-Aware long ago. As Dinesh indicated, there was a time when it was a good program for removing spyware and adware -- programs like BargainBuddy, BonziBuddy, SahAgent, etc. Anything more difficult required (at that time) Merjin's HijackThis.

Granted, "Team Lavasoft"* had great fun back in the day, working directly with Nicolas Stark and members of Lavasoft Research, but Nic has long been out of the picture. In fact, too few people realize that Lavasoft was acquired in January of this year by Lulu Software (WOT rating of Lulu Software).

Based on a comment posted on my blog post, Surprisingly Little Information on Lavasoft Acquisition, earlier this week, the last of the Lavasoft employees have been eliminated, the Swedish offices will close and programming for Ad-Aware will be done in Ukraine:

FYI: After the "secret" acquisition (which, by the way, everyone was told that nothing will change), they fired a whole bunch of people in two strokes, the second being in May 2011.

Two weeks ago (Week 32), the remaining 15 or so employees were told that the Swedish offices will close (the date is not yet as yet).

Lulu have a satellite office in Ukraine where the programming will be done; I guess their "marketing" (for want of a better word) will be driven from Canada.

The end of an era.

*BTW, we're still together and still providing help at another site.

 

[Golden]

Well, well, well.....thanks for posting this Corinne.

 

[bru]

@bru, those numbers at C|Net and other download locations are cumulative. Thus, those numbers include downloads from when AAW was first listed there so I wouldn't advise anyone putting any credence in the download numbers.

On cnet's site they list last week's downloads. Not sure how those could be cumulative, but I supopose it's possible. Either way like you say I wouldn't read much into what any one else was downloading. I'd do my own research.

 

[Corrine]

Sorry, bru. I hadn't checked the site and know that years ago, all we saw at the various download sites was the total. Its the 372,734,928 figure is cumulative. As to 168,052 downloads, that isn't really a large number in the large picture and doesn't mean that it worked either. LOL

 

[jmm]

from what i read here, it seems that not many people would be happy with win-defender alone - am i right?

 

[gautam7]

Anybody tried the lattest version of Ad-ware 9.5, Which claims many under the hood improvement. Waiting for cnet to do a full review

 

[Athene]

I agree with the others - Lavasoft Ad-Aware used to be good, but that was long ago. It became so bloated and slow that I gave up on it.
But back in the days when it was a trim and slim fast thing, it caught a nasty trojan which had infected my Windows Media Player and generated ad popups, but could not remove it. On this occasion, I would like to thank Corrine who helped me get rid of that Trojan when I posted to the Lavasoft Support Forums; thanks to her, Ad-Aware was updated with a definition file which was able to remove the little beast. It's a small world sometimes ;-D She was very patient with panicky me and got my computer cleaned up perfectly back in 2004 (I printed out the whole thing as a souvenir). Thanks, Corrine

 

[Corrine]

from what i read here, it seems that not many people would be happy with win-defender alone - am i right?

Hi, jmm. Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program and does not include anti-malware detection. If you use MSE, the Windows Defender engine is incorporated. I suggest you consider Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware or SUPER Anti-Spyware. (Personally, I would also include WinPatrol.)

Anybody tried the lattest version of Ad-ware 9.5, Which claims many under the hood improvement. Waiting for cnet to do a full review

Note this report by Bill Pytlovany about C|Net downloads: WinPatrol PLUS available for $9.99 while CNET Annoys Users.

Someone reported elsewhere that "The free version will update 2 times a week if you're online at the right update time - forget it". Can anyone confirm? That would really be totally useless if true.

I agree with the others - Lavasoft Ad-Aware used to be good, but that was long ago. It became so bloated and slow that I gave up on it.
But back in the days when it was a trim and slim fast thing, it caught a nasty trojan which had infected my Windows Media Player and generated ad popups, but could not remove it. On this occasion, I would like to thank Corrine who helped me get rid of that Trojan when I posted to the Lavasoft Support Forums; thanks to her, Ad-Aware was updated with a definition file which was able to remove the little beast. It's a small world sometimes ;-D She was very patient with panicky me and got my computer cleaned up perfectly back in 2004 (I printed out the whole thing as a souvenir). Thanks, Corrine

Wow! After all these years, you actually remember me helping you. That is probably the nicest compliment ever.

 

[gautam7]

Someone reported elsewhere that "The free version will update 2 times a week if you're online at the right update time - forget it". Can anyone confirm? That would really be totally useless if true.

If this is true then i must say lavasoft and ad-ware dev have gone mad. Really two update a week..... i mean come on.......

Also have not downloaded from cnet from some time but i have used them from many years but if they continue in this path that is bundling adware (i.s toolbar) through installer then i must say goodby to cnet. Time to look for alternet download site.

 

[Corrine]

I don't know if it is true, gautam7. It is just what someone reported elsewhere. Also, please remember one very important thing. It is no longer Ad-Aware by Lavasoft. As I indicated above, Lavasoft was purchased by Lulu Software in January.

 

[jmm]

Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program and does not include anti-malware detection.

thanks corrine - i believe avast is antimalware - would a defender + avast combo be enough for protection?

 

[Corrine]

Avast is an antivirus software. Keep Windows Defender as real-time protection. However, I would still recommend including the free version of either MBAM or SAS plus WinPatrol.