AD-Aware- The Dragon Slayer Of SpyWare?
Written: Oct 04 '00 (Updated Oct 11 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Free, Small Download
Cons: I Question The Purpose
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| rpllingrock's Full Review: AD-Aware |
If you are one of the paranoid who believe that big companies are secretly planting code into innocent programs just to gather intelligence on our habits, then do I have a utility for you!
What is Spyware?
I've explained this in a previous review but for all intents, it's code that is included in Internet programs, usually downloaded for free, and supposedly record and transmit a variety of information back to the originator of the spying software and without your knowledge.
Activities that they may find of interest include, web sites visited, the time spent, files downloaded, music or video- either watched or downloaded and who knows what?
The information gathered is not much different then filling out a registration card and checking off your likes and dislikes and answering questions not even pertaining to whatever product you're registering. Or filling out a web form for a free e-mail address or some contest.
Why would a big company do this? One has to wonder why in heck would they risk the backlash from consumers? Well, many times if you read the acceptance agreement thoroughly, you will sometimes see exactly what, if any information might be gathered and what they intend to do with it. If this is the case, and they tell you straight out, it's your fault for not reading and accepting the agreement.
It's when they don't tell that makes people angry and feel betrayed.
AD-Aware The Dragon Slayer?
Much like the program utility Opt-Out, it detects suspected spy programs and removes the offending files. After running it on my system, two cookies that were suspect violators were detected and removed.
This utility is much more efficient then the freely available Opt-Out.
After downloading the small 220 KB and running, a scan will be performed on your system searching for these suspected files. The scan took less than one minute on my system. You then have the choice to create a log file, which I suggest, and removing the files.
This utility like all others before it, assume that these files are guilty of something, what? - Nobody knows for sure.
One of the cookies found on my system:
DoubleClick Cookie:C:\WINDOWS\Cookies\mike@doubleclick[1].txt
Upon opening the cookie:
idAdoubleclick.net/0146894875361583413103468745529371789*
Of course trying to read a cookie is like trying to decipher the Egyptian Hieroglyphs without the Rosetta Stone! ;)
Caution when removing files with this utility. Once the suspected files are deleted, the main program may no longer work. This is the case with the Shareware version of GoZilla! Since I use the full paid version, none of these spy files were found, leaving GoZilla! intact. This warning is included on their web page also.
Running a test by having Ad-Aware remove a shareware version of GoZilla! did exactly what it was supposed to do, remove the offending files.
The files were gone and so was the functionality of GoZilla!
Suspected Software
Some of the more notables include Flyswat- Included as part of NeoPlanets search features or a stand-alone product. If you have FlySwat on your system, be aware they are up to no good. At least according to AD-Aware.
Gator- A password tracking and form filling utility.
CometCursor 2.0- Replaces your cursor to a cute custom image.
Don't forget to add the doubleclick demons to the list.
There are other possible culprits not included such as Real Networks.
Another Way Of Blocking
The use of a firewall such as ZoneAlarm or Norton Internet Security will most likely warn you when a spyware program is attempting to transmit information from your computer. Be forewarned though, if you choose to allow this connection "always", you have possibly ruined any chances of blocking this program from accessing the net without your authorization.
If in doubt, block the unknown program until you decide exactly what it is. One good example of this is when I recently installed GoZilla! on one of my computers. It made an attempt to contact Radiate\Aureate via my Internet connection. Once I refused this connection through my firewall, the program ceased operation.
Overall
Being a free utility, it may be worth your effort in testing your system for these types of spy programs and cookies. The only bad part is its inability to keep these from being installed in the first place. I would like to see a program that runs in the background (with the other 25) that would warn a user of such an invasion of privacy.
Occasionally I will check back on the Ad-Aware site for updated versions and post my new findings on this review. My intention is to run this utility weekly to see who and what is lying in wait.
I am not a firm believer that companies would risk their reputation just to find out trivial information such as where one has visited. The person that scares me is the one that could possibly rummage through my trash and gather up enough information to steal my identity. Now that's something to really worry about don't you think?
Recommended:
Yes
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