Ad-Aware 2007 (New version of FREE anti-spyware)

[krish]

FYI ... there's a new Ad-Aware, was released this week
- and the earlier Ad-Aware SE Personal doesn't automatically update to to the new Ad-Aware 2007, so download the new version, and uninstall the old one.

Ad-Aware 2007 Free
- www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php


EDIT ... from Wikipedia:

Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware program from Lavasoft that detects and removes software on a user's computer that is determined to be spyware or adware. It also detects dialers, trojans, malware, data-mining, aggressive advertising, parasites, browser hijackers, and tracking components.

There is a freeware version called Ad-Aware Personal, as well as two retail products—Ad-Aware Plus and Ad-Aware Professional. The free download includes Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition, skins, help manuals, RegHance and the latest definition file. However, real-time protection is not included in the personal edition. The freeware version of Ad-Aware is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003. Ad-Aware SE Personal was included in Google Pack since January 6, 2006 . As of April 2007, it is no longer included in Google Pack, replaced by PC Tools' Spyware Doctor.

Since May 27, 2005 when version 1.06 appeared on Download.com, the program has been downloaded over 239 million times, as of April 23, 2007.

Norman ASA, together with Lavasoft, offers the Ad-Aware Plus and Ad-Aware Professional versions. The main difference between the freeware and the Plus and Professional versions is the addition of real-time scanning. Real-time scanning means that users are protected when surfing and do not have to start the scanning of spyware manually, as in the freeware version.

It should be noted that the Ad-Aware is not extremely aggressive in detecting and removing certain adware. The recent test results show how a bundled adware program, "WhenUSave" is ignored by Ad-Aware Personal SE, but removed by other scanners. This is perhaps because WhenUSave is part of the popular free eDonkey P2P client. Removal would disable the free, advertising-supported eDonkey parent program. This was not always the case, as test results from 2004 show detection and removal of the WhenUSave application by Ad-Aware Personal.

Ad-Aware 2007 was released on June 7, 2007. But so far is incompatible with Windows Vista. Under the FAQ on the forums for ad-aware it is said that Lavasoft will release a compatibility patch soon.