Ad-Aware 2008 Overview

Posted on July 3, 2008 at 5:32 am

Let’s be honest. If a software tool of any type and caliber has a recorded number of downloads, from Download.com, in the hundreds of millions (yes, hundreds of millions), then the software creator is doing something right. Ok, that was an understatement.

This level of downloads means they are in the type of distribution that is expected from companies like Microsoft, Symantec, and other large scale software producers.

The Ad-Aware line of products (from www.lavasoft.com) has been a longstanding weapon in the fight against spyware. While there are other Lavasoft programs, such as Ad-Watch, Ad-Aware is their definitive flagship product. There are three main distributions of this program, the latter two of which are paid versions.

The great thing about Ad-Aware is that even the free version has the same software engine at its core. The paid versions (Plus and Pro) offer additional protection tools for your computer, as well as more automation. The individual user will have to weigh the options of shelling out the cash for the upgraded product versions.

For now, we will focus on the free Ad-Aware program. Please be aware that the free version of Ad-Aware is a manual type scanner and manually updated tool. While powerful at finding and eliminating spyware, it should not be: A. Your only anti-spyware utility or solution, and B.

Considered a perfect spyware scanner. There is no single spyware tools that is perfect, but having Ad-Aware as a backup scanner boosts your chances of finding spyware nasties on your computer.

Upon opening Ad-Aware, the main screen shows you options for updating Ad-Aware, running an immediate scan, and registering (for the paid versions). One will be able to discern if they are current on their definition files and see when their last spyware scan was run.

Additionally, within the Status menu, you can choose the Statistics option, for viewing the last run scan and amount of threats located. One can also view the Log Files for a historical set of performed actions. *Note that throughout this post, I have purple highlight bars over certain portions of the screen shots. The purple areas indicate functions not available in the free version.

In the Scan menu, you have the option of selecting a particular Scan Mode. These modes, for the free version, include a Smart Scan and Full Scan. Other anti-spyware tools have similar functions. The difference between the two types of scans is that the Smart Scan looks at the most commonly infected areas, while the Full Scan sifts through your entire computer. To answer the obvious question, yes, there is a definitive gap in time between the two scanning methods.

Underneath the Scan Mode option, in the Scan menu, there is an option named Quarantine & Ignore. In this section, you can click on the Quarantine tab to see any found spyware, or cookies, which have been collected during a scan, but not altogether eliminated. Additionally, the Ignore List shows the user a list of programs or file they marked so Ad-Aware will leave them alone during a scan.

The Web Update menu holds two choices. The first, Web Update, simply shows a verbal reiteration of why you should keep your updates current. This is when we smile and nod, as we already know the value of keeping anti-spyware up to date. Moving on then… The Settings menu has the option of giving us a metaphorical “idiot light”; akin to the oil light on a vehicle.

Only in this instance, it is in regard to the Definitions File. Keep in mind that the default setting tells Ad-Aware that after 14 days, it is outdated. I think that 4 to 5 days may be a more realistic metric. It is worth mentioning that if you use a proxy server of some type, you may enter those settings in this menu.

Unfortunately, the Tools section, under Tools & Plug-ins, is reserved for the paid versions of Ad-Aware. However, we do get a nice tool called TrackSweep. What TrackSweep does is clear out the Internet leftovers if Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera. If you do not care for the built-in cleaning in any of these three web browsers, you can use this extra utility to flush out the extra junk picked up during your Internet travels.

Once you reach the Settings menu, you will notice the many available options. Several are checked by default in the Scanning tab. The is one option I would personally recommend using, which is not in the basic setup. Scan Alternate Data Streams is very useful for finding spyware that infects via the ADS layer in Windows NTFS file system operating systems (NT 3.51, NT 4.0, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista). This is one tab that may prompt you to experiment to see which options best suit your tastes.

Another “unfortunately” here: The free version does not include the heuristics portion of the Ad-Aware engine. Heuristics is a nice option to have as it “guesses” at strange behavior on your computer. If your definitions file does not contain a matching signature for a suspected malicious piece of active spyware, Ad-Aware could warn you of potentially harmful programs that are as yet unrecognized.

The last section I will mention is the Auto Scans tab within the Settings menu. Here you can specify to Quarantine spyware before it is completely removed from your computer. This can come in handy for analysis of items collected during a spyware sweep.

Do not get me wrong, Ad-Aware is a strong spyware scanning utility. It has a fairly high detection rate. The free version is good for getting a second opinion and to compliment your other malware tools (be they commercial licenses, or free). Do not use Ad-Aware as your only armor though. Use it in conjunction with other software.

Happy scanning!