Technology How To

What is Ad-aware?
Some software that you might download from the internet and install on your PC may contain hidden functionality that can compromise your data and/or privacy (known as “Ad-ware”). Even clicking on an attachment in email may install ill-meaning applications without your knowledge. Ad-Aware may be used to help safeguard your PC against these malicious applications by scanning your computer for Ad-ware and then removing it.

Installing Ad-aware
Ad-Aware is installed on some IBM ThinkPads. If Ad-Aware is not installed on the Thinkpad, see http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and click Ad-aware to download the free version of the software.
After downloading, double-click the installer icon to install this application

Status Screen
The status screen shows important details such as the installed reference file, date of your last complete system check, as well as general usage statistics.

Contents of the status-screen:

System Protection Status: Shows the user Ad-Watch realtime protection and Automatic update status. You can change the status using the Ad-Watch and Settings tabs on the left side of the program.

Ad-Watch realtime protection is only available in Ad-aware Plus or Pro for a fee.

Definitions Status: Click Update to get the most recent definitions prior to scanning the computer for adware. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install definitions.

System Scan: Shows the user when their last scan or infection was. Also gives the number of items of quarantine and items on the ignore list.

To see the total list statistics and actions that Ad-aware has taken, click on the Status tab on the right and enter the Statistics or Log Files options.

Scanning your Computer:

• Press the Scan now button in the System Scan Box. (To schedule a scan you must purchase Ad-Aware Plus or Pro.)
• You can also choose what type of scan you want
• Smart Scan (up to 20 minutes to complete)
• Full Scan (up to 40 minutes to complete)
• Custom Scan (select folders to scan)
• Click the Scan button in the lower right corner of the status screen and allow the scan to run.
• Once the scan is complete, click Finish. If any Ad-ware is found, Ad-aware will ask you to select the file and allow it to remove it from the system.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to remove any adware found in the search.