Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ review
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ combines Bitdefender's advanced scanning technology with antispyware to provide you with top-of-the-line antivirus protection without system slowdowns.
Pros
Employs a trusted engine: Ad-Aware version 11 uses Bitdefender's highly rated antivirus engine alongside its trusted antispyware platform. If you already have a trusted antivirus app installed, Ad-Aware can be added as a second layer of security.
Light on memory: Ad-Aware goes easy on your system resources -- you can perform an active virus scan while surfing the Web.
Dependable detection: Ad-Aware's false-positive results are low, according to independent testers AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.
Remains out of sight: The antivirus suite stays mostly out of your way during daily use, with minor notifications here and there to alert you of suspicious activity. Game mode temporarily turns of all notifications so you can play without interruption.
Cons
Lower real-world performance: AV-Comparatives' preliminary tests found that Lavasoft's protection rate has recently slipped in ranking. Due to its nonproprietary detection engine, Ad-Aware is always a little behind on the latest exploits.
Requires additional activation: Ad-Aware will work for the first 30 days but then requires activation via email. It's an extra step and the minor cost for using a free product.
Bottom Line
With a slim interface built on top of a powerful scanner, Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ provides robust protection with minimal system impact. The extra activation step is annoying, but for such great free protection, it is a small price to pay. While the suite can leave your system vulnerable to first-day exploits, they are rare, and Ad-Aware is more than capable to protect you in daily usage.
