Ad-Aware
Encyclopedia
Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware and anti-virus
program developed by Lavasoft
that detects and removes malware, spyware
and adware
on a user's computer. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware detects spyware, computer viruses, dialer
s, Trojans
, bots, rootkit
s, data miners, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijacker
s, and tracking components.
In the 2008 Edition, Lavasoft bundled Ad-Aware Pro and Plus for the first time with an antivirus scanner, which uses the Avira
engine
and this practice continued in the subsequent releases.
Lavasoft also offers an Ad-Aware version for business
es, named Ad-Aware Business Edition, which is designed for use over networks. It has a central server console interface with licences for installing Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security on the networked machines.
Lavasoft also makes available an Ad-Aware spin-off product aimed at online gamers and entertainment fans, called Ad-Aware Game Edition.
Each version includes anti-spyware and anti-rootkit protection, as well as integrated protection against real-time threats. As of July 7th the Ad-Aware Free Internet Security version also include antivirus. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware allows computer users to combat malicious spyware, viruses, and malware; it protects users from malware that takes control of a computer and can result in aggressive advertising pop-ups
, in sluggish computer activity and in the stealing of private information. The vendors says that Ad-Aware detects hazardous content on a user's computer, identifies the threat level, and then gives the user the ability to block or remove unwanted content.
According to PC World magazine
, an older version of Ad-Aware, the Anniversary Edition, could locate only 83.6% of malware in a comparative test carried out by the security firm av-test.org. However, as the article states, no such tests have been run on the newest version. Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag has performed a lab test on the latest version, 8.3, where Ad-Aware scored 9.2 points, beating the previous top score of 9.1.
Ad-Aware installs Google Chrome
, which will be done automatically unless the user de-selects the tick-box in the Ad-Aware installation program.
The paid versions of the product are under threat from more functional and lower cost, even free, competition such as Microsoft Security Essentials.
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
program developed by Lavasoft
Lavasoft
Lavasoft is a software development company that produces anti‐spyware software, including Ad‐Aware.The company offers a free, downloadable version of Ad‐Aware titled Ad‐Aware Free Internet Security and three commercial versions called Ad-Aware Total Security, Ad‐Aware Pro Internet Security, and...
that detects and removes malware, spyware
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's...
and adware
Adware
Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. They may also be in the user interface of the software or on a screen presented to the user during...
on a user's computer. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware detects spyware, computer viruses, dialer
Dialer
A dialer or dialler is an electronic device that is connected to a telephone line to monitor the dialed numbers and alter them to seamlessly provide services that otherwise require lengthy access codes to be dialed...
s, Trojans
Trojan horse (computing)
A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is software that appears to perform a desirable function for the user prior to run or install, but steals information or harms the system. The term is derived from the Trojan Horse story in Greek mythology.-Malware:A destructive program that masquerades as a benign...
, bots, rootkit
Rootkit
A rootkit is software that enables continued privileged access to a computer while actively hiding its presence from administrators by subverting standard operating system functionality or other applications...
s, data miners, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijacker
Browser hijacker
A browser hijacker is a form of malware or spyware that replaces the existing internet browser home page, error page, or search page with its own. These are generally used to force hits to a particular website.- Morwill Search :...
s, and tracking components.
History
Ad-Aware was originally developed in 1999 to highlight web beacons inside of Internet Explorer. On many websites, users would see a tiny pixelated square next to each web beacon, warning the user that the computer's IP address and other non-essential information was being tracked by this website. Over time, Ad-Aware added the ability to block those beacons, or ads. Ad-Aware no longer makes the user aware of the ads on the screen, instead the program fights spyware, adware, viruses and other malware.In the 2008 Edition, Lavasoft bundled Ad-Aware Pro and Plus for the first time with an antivirus scanner, which uses the Avira
Avira
Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG is a German antivirus software company. When founded, the company was called "H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH". Its antivirus applications are based on the AntiVir scan engine also known as "Luke Filewalker" , first launched in 1988. For aesthetic reasons, the name was...
engine
and this practice continued in the subsequent releases.
Overview
, Lavasoft makes Ad-Aware version 9.6 available in three core versions:- Ad-Aware Free Internet Security
- Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security
- Ad-Aware Total Security
Lavasoft also offers an Ad-Aware version for business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
es, named Ad-Aware Business Edition, which is designed for use over networks. It has a central server console interface with licences for installing Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security on the networked machines.
Lavasoft also makes available an Ad-Aware spin-off product aimed at online gamers and entertainment fans, called Ad-Aware Game Edition.
Each version includes anti-spyware and anti-rootkit protection, as well as integrated protection against real-time threats. As of July 7th the Ad-Aware Free Internet Security version also include antivirus. According to Lavasoft, Ad-Aware allows computer users to combat malicious spyware, viruses, and malware; it protects users from malware that takes control of a computer and can result in aggressive advertising pop-ups
Pop-up ad
Pop-up ads or pop-ups are a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to attract web traffic or capture email addresses. Pop-ups are generally new web browser windows to display advertisements...
, in sluggish computer activity and in the stealing of private information. The vendors says that Ad-Aware detects hazardous content on a user's computer, identifies the threat level, and then gives the user the ability to block or remove unwanted content.
According to PC World magazine
PC World (magazine)
PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services...
, an older version of Ad-Aware, the Anniversary Edition, could locate only 83.6% of malware in a comparative test carried out by the security firm av-test.org. However, as the article states, no such tests have been run on the newest version. Neil J. Rubenking at PCMag has performed a lab test on the latest version, 8.3, where Ad-Aware scored 9.2 points, beating the previous top score of 9.1.
Ad-Aware installs Google Chrome
Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. The name is derived from the graphical user interface frame, or...
, which will be done automatically unless the user de-selects the tick-box in the Ad-Aware installation program.
Market share
Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition, which has now been replaced with Ad-Aware 8.1, is listed as having been downloaded over 339 million times ; however, since its primary competition is not downloadable from the same location, a comparison of relative market-share is not possible with these figures.The paid versions of the product are under threat from more functional and lower cost, even free, competition such as Microsoft Security Essentials.