AdAware
Ad-Aware Antivirus+ 11 Free running under Windows 7.
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| Developer(s) | Lavasoft |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1999 |
| Stable release |
11.5.202.7299 / 19 December 2014
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| Written in | C++, Visual Basic .NET |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Type | Spyware removal software |
| License | Proprietary , Freeware |
| Website | www |
Ad-Aware is an anti-spyware and anti-virus software 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, dialers, Trojans, bots, rootkits, data miners,, parasites, browser hijackers, and tracking components.
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 used the Avira engine and this arrangement continued for a few years. Starting with Ad-Aware version 10, the Bitdefender antivirus engine was used instead.
A new wrinkle is adware (using stolen certificates) that disables anti-malware and virus protection such as Ad-Aware; technical remedies are available.
As of 2014[update], Lavasoft makes Ad-Aware version 11 available in four core versions:
The latest Ad-Aware products have been completely revamped to the point where it has almost nothing in common with its predecessors except the core functionalities.
Lavasoft also offers volume licenses of Ad-Aware for businesses, which is designed for use over networks. It has a central server console interface with licences for installing Ad-Aware Pro Security on the networked machines.
Each version includes anti-spyware, antivirus, and anti-rootkit protection, as well as integrated protection against real-time threats. 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, sluggish computer activity and the theft of private information. The vendor 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. Ad-Aware Total Security offers extra features that the three core versions do not, primarily: firewall, system tuning, online backup, data recovery, anti-spam and parental controls.
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Wikipedia