Article URL: http://www.bc.edu/helpdocs/SEC-adaware001.shtml

Summary:  Ad-Aware is an application built to find and remove adware and spyware on your Windows computer. It can scan your RAM, registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components that were installed without your knowledge. Ad-Aware can easily clean your computer, allowing you to maintain a higher degree of privacy while you surf the Web. Learn how to install and use Ad-Aware.

On this page:

• Installing Ad-Aware
• Updating Ad-Aware
• Using Ad-Aware to scan your computer for spyware and adware

Installing Ad-Aware

To download & install Ad-Aware:

1. Close any open applications on your computer.
2. Open your Web browser and go to:  www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
3. Click Download Now.
4. Save the file, aaw2007.exe, to your desktop.
5. On your desktop, double-click the file: aaw2007.exe
   Note: If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed on your computer, you may see the following alert (see Figure 1). Click Run.
   
   Figure 1.
   
   Note: If you have Windows Vista on your computer, you will see the following alert (see Figure 2), click OK. Then when Windows asks for permission to continue, click Continue.
   
   Figure 2.
   
   
6. Click Next (see Figure 3).
   
   Figure 3.
   
   
7. Read the license agreement, click I accept the license agreement, then click Next (see Figure 4).
   
   Figure 4.
   
   
8. Select who on your computer can run Ad-Aware, then click Next (see Figure 5).
   
   Figure 5.
   
   
9. Select Standard installation, then click Next to begin installation (see to Figure 6).
   
   Figure 6.
   
   
10. Click Next (see Figure 7).
    
    Figure 7.
    
    
11. Click Next (see Figure 8).
    
    Figure 8.
    
    
12. Click Finish (see Figure 9).
    
    Figure 9.
    
    
13. When prompted for your license information, click Cancel (see Figure 10).
    
    Figure 10.
    
    
14. Ad-Aware is installed and ready to use.

Updating Ad-Aware

The first time Ad-Aware is opened, it should ask you to update the data file (similar to how you update your virus protection). In the event it does not, you can update now using the steps below.

To update Ad-Aware:

1. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
2. Open Ad-Aware & click Update (see Figure 11).
   
   Figure 11.
   
   
3. Click Yes (see Figure 12).
   
   Figure 12.
   
   
4. Click Yes (see Figure 13).
   
   Figure 13.
   
   
5. Click OK (see Figure 14).
   
   Figure 14.
   
   
6. When prompted to open the update manager, click Yes..
7. Click Download (see Figure 15).
   
   Figure 15.
   
   
8. Once the updated is complete, click OK.

Using Ad-Aware to scan your computer for spyware and adware

To use Ad-Aware to scan your computer for spyware and adware:

1. Open Ad-Aware, then do the following (see Figure 16):
   • Click Scan in the left panel.
   • Select Full Scan.
   • Click the Scan button on the bottom right.
   
   
   Figure 16.
   
   
2. Ad-Aware scans your system for spyware and adware (see Figure 17).
   
   Figure 17.
   
   
3. When the scan is complete, do the following (see Figure 18):
   • Click the Privacy Objects tab.
   • Check all items you want to remove.
   • Click Remove.
   • Click the Critical Objects tab.
   • Check all items you want to remove.
   • Click Remove.
   • Click Finish.
   
   
   Figure 18.
   
   
4. The scan & removal process is complete.
   Important: You should scan your computer for spyware and adware often.
5. Note: It is recommended you now clean your computer by using one of the following programs:
   • CCleaner (free) - for Windows Vista, XP, and 2000
   • Disk Cleanup (comes free with Windows)

• Learn how to protect your identity, credit card information, and computer