Ad-Aware

Noreen · Dec 19, 2007, 18:04:35

Support and definitions for Ad-Aware SE will cease at the end of this year. You'll need to install Ad-Aware 2007.
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=13812&hl

BrianM · Dec 19, 2007, 19:16:40

Thanks for that info Noreen, will update later.

Gary · Dec 20, 2007, 09:11:05

From what I have read Ad aware 2007 is not great, I used to use it but in the end its detection ratings are so appalling in most online reviews its not worth the extra overhead of having a service running in the background even in the free version, sadly like spybot it is not keeping up with the game any more, you would be better off with avg antispyware or superantispyware probably, both of which have free versions. I think they may have fixed most of the bugs now in the latest 2007 version of ad-aware so maybe its got better $:-\$

Noreen · Dec 20, 2007, 09:52:32

I haven't installed the 2007 version yet having read about some problems. I'll have to investigate further.

Gary · Dec 20, 2007, 10:02:58

Quote from: Noreen on Dec 20, 2007, 09:52:32
I haven't installed the 2007 version yet having read about some problems. I'll have to investigate further.

Always the best way Noreen, sometimes I wish theses companies would leave things as they were and not introduce bloat

Noreen · Dec 20, 2007, 10:51:29

From what I've now read I may just stay with SpyBot and SpywareBlaster and ditch Ad-Aware.

Rik · Dec 20, 2007, 10:53:32

That does seem to be the emerging picture, Noreen.

Gary · Dec 20, 2007, 11:07:21

So many companies this year have gone the same way with their software its untrue

Inactive · Dec 20, 2007, 11:07:49

Quote from: Noreen on Dec 20, 2007, 10:51:29
From what I've now read I may just stay with SpyBot and SpywareBlaster and ditch Ad-Aware.

I did a long while ago Noreen.

Noreen · Dec 20, 2007, 11:29:03

They never seem to find anything except the occasional tracking cookie anyway with the sort of internet browsing that I do.

Rik · Dec 20, 2007, 11:49:16

I have the same issue - I'm left feeling "why did I bother?", especially as I clear cookies each day.

Noreen · Dec 20, 2007, 11:58:05

Quote from: Rik on Dec 20, 2007, 11:49:16
especially as I clear cookies each day.

Me too, except those few "sign-in" cookies that I exempt.

Rik · Dec 20, 2007, 12:03:05

Exactly.

BrianM · Dec 20, 2007, 19:11:17

I ditched Spybot a couple of years ago, it wasn't finding much and I kept having problems with it. MS anti spyware prog' didn't seem much better to me either. Have Spyware Blaster installed and AVg's anti-spyware which is ok. Ad-aware SE doesn't seem to be up to par lately,was hoping to update to ad-aware 2007 but after reading these posts I think I'll hang fire $:-\$ . Thanks.

Sebby · Dec 24, 2007, 00:25:01

I haven't had a spyware program installed other than Windows Defender for a few years and haven't had an issue. If you're careful, I think it's fairly difficult to get spyware. Maybe that's just me.

Rik · Dec 24, 2007, 00:27:24

I agree with you Sebby, the most anything has found on my machine has been a tracking cookie which I would have deleted anyway. However, like all these things, I feel the need to take precautions even if I've not had an issue - wonderful thing, the marketing game.

Simon · Dec 24, 2007, 00:57:39

I think Windows Defender has a fairly low detection rate (according to Wilders), but I have to say, I too have rarely found anything other than tracking cookies on my machine, and even those are dealt with by Sea Monkey, which deletes all but saved cookies on exit. If you do want an on demand scanner, Super AntiSpyware has a good reputation.

Gary · Dec 24, 2007, 07:51:15

Quote from: Simon on Dec 24, 2007, 00:57:39
I think Windows Defender has a fairly low detection rate (according to Wilders), but I have to say, I too have rarely found anything other than tracking cookies on my machine, and even those are dealt with by Sea Monkey, which deletes all but saved cookies on exit. If you do want an on demand scanner, Super AntiSpyware has a good reputation.

I gave up on spybot and spywareblaster simply because they are outmoded protection these days, a good hips system will protect you and as Simon said cookies are deleted by my browser when I exit apart from the ones I wish to keep. I use superantispyware and it works as advertised finds maybe a tracking cookie from once in a blue moon, but thats about it, also has very regular updates, far more than Spybot or spywareblaster, which I noted in the end slowed my browsing as its constantly checking the list for bad sites, not really what I personally wanted if you want to go down the a path for protection similar to spywareblaster but with more effect maybe consider a hosts file but even that is getting outmoded by by todays malware sadly.

jupiter · Dec 26, 2007, 18:07:57

I ditched Ad-aware some time ago following persistent problems with it arguing with itself about updating.

I am losing faith in the need for Spyware blaster and Spybot because I suspect that ESET Smart Security is finding everything smoothly and painlessly and without my doing anything.

Simon · Dec 26, 2007, 21:27:30

To be honest, if you practice safe surfing, and are sensible with unexpected emails, I don't think you need a whole army of spyware protection on your machine. I ran for a year with only F-Secure Internet Security, which never announced any findings of spyware, and it was only when I changed suites recently that I did a scan with SAS, which also found nothing, so now I just use Bit Defender and Spyware Blaster, but when SB expires again, I probably won't renew it.

Sebby · Dec 26, 2007, 21:51:08

I completely agree, Simon.

Noreen · Dec 26, 2007, 22:31:03

I've now removed Ad-Aware as my current version expires at the end of this month and people are having problems with the new version.