Ad-Aware

On this page:
About Ad-Aware
Install Ad-Aware
Update Ad-Aware (without an Internet connection)
Use Ad-Aware to scan for Spyware

About Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware is an application for Windows that helps protect against spyware.
We recommend using Ad-Aware and/or SpyBot Search & Destroy to keep your computer Spyware-free.

How to install Ad-Aware:

  1. Click Here to download Ad-Aware to your Desktop.
     
  2. Next, open the file "aawsepersonal.exe" located on your Desktop.
     
  3. Proceed through the installation process.
     

Update Ad-Aware (without an Internet connection):

  1. Click Here to download the Ad-Aware definitions to your Desktop.
     
  2. Double click "defs.zip" on your desktop.
     
  3. Click and drag "reflist.ref" to your desktop.
     
  4. Close the WinZip program.
     
  5. Double click the "Ad-aware SE" icon to open the program.
     
  6. Click on the "Configurations" icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen

     
  7. Select the "General" tab on the left, and in the right pane click on the folder next to "Using definitions file…"

     
  8. Look in: "Desktop", select "reflist.ref" and click open. This will set Ad-Aware to use the definitions that were on the CD to scan for Spyware and adware on your computer.
     
  9. Click Proceed.
     
  10. Now that you are updated, follow the instructions to scan for Spyware.
     

Use Ad-Aware to scan for Spyware:

  1. Click Start > Programs > Lavasoft Ad-aware SE > Ad-aware SE Personal. You can also click the Ad-Aware icon on your desktop.
     
  2. Click on Check for updates now

     
  3. Click the Connect button.

     
  4. Click the OK button
     
  5. Click the Finish button. You now have the latest definitions for the latest spyware.

     
  6. Click the Start button to run Ad-aware.

     
  7. Select "Use custom scanning options" and click Customize
     
  8. Under ‘Memory & Registry’, make all options have a green check mark.

     
  9. Click Proceed
     
  10. Click Next. Ad-Aware will take a few minutes to scan your computer for Spyware.
     
  11. When scanning is finished, right-click on a check box and choose "Select all objects" and click Next. The objects will now be quarantined.

     
  12. Click the Next button.
     
  13. Click the ‘OK’ button to delete the Spyware.

     
  14. Exit the program. You are done your computer is now Spyware free. Run Ad-aware every week to keep your computer clean and your bandwidth use efficient.