Ad-Aware SE Scanner

Ad-Aware SE is one of the utilities supported by Cornell Information Technologies for the detection and removal of spyware from Windows computers.

Contents

• Download Ad-Aware SE
• Install Ad-Aware SE
• Running Ad-Aware SE
• Updating Ad-Aware SE
  
  
• Use Spybot - S&D as well as Ad-Aware
• What if I'm still having trouble?

Who can use Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition?

• The Personal edition is free for use on personally-owned computers. For use on university-owned computers, a license for the Plus or Professional edition must be purchased. The Plus and Professional editions have more features than the Personal edition, but the basic steps for installation and use as shown in this page are the same for all three editions.

• On an office or lab computer where someone else, such as a network administrator, usually handles software installations and upgrades, always consult that person before installing any type of software.

Downloading Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition

1. Go to http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
2. Scroll down to the freeware section and select one of the download sites listed to start the download of Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition.
3. You may elect to run it now or to save the installer to your desktop (or another location) and then run it from there.

Installing Ad-Aware SE

1. You will be presented with a typical set of installation screens.
   
   Step-by-Step Instructions
   1. On the Welcome screen click Next.
   2. On the License Agreement screen click on "I accept the license agreement" and then click Next.
   3. On the Destination Location screen click Next.
   4. On the Install to All Users menu screen click Next.
   5. On the Start Installation screen click Next.
   6. You will see a series of screens as the installer installs Ad-Aware SE on your system.
   7. On the Successfully installed screen click Finish >.
    
2. The last screen will default to launching Ad-Aware SE to run a full system scan when you click Finish. If you did not deselect Perform a full system scan now, proceed to step 3 below.
3. Click "Finish" to exit the installer and process the choices selected on the last screen.

Running Ad-Aware SE

1. If you just installed Ad-Aware, a scan will start automatically (unless you unchecked the box marked "Perform a full system scan now").

   Otherwise, launch Ad-Aware and press Start to scan your system.
   
   
   

2. On the Preparing System Scan screen, Perform full system scan should be selected, then click Next.
   
   
    
3. When the scan is finished, the Scan Complete box will be displayed.
   
   
    
4. Click Next  to see the results of the Scan.
   
   
    
5. To obtain more information about any entry, right-click on an entry and select Item Details from the drop-down list.
   
   
   An Object Details window will be displayed with more information.
   
   
   
   Click Close when you have finished reviewing the information.
   
   
6. You can select any or all of the items to be removed.  To select All items, right-click on any entry and select Select All Objects from the dropdown list.
   
   
    
7. Then click Next to remove the objects selected.
   
8. Click OK when prompted to Continue?
    

 
9. Close down Ad-Aware by clicking on the red X in the upper right corner of the window.
   

Updating Ad-Aware SE

1. Click on Check for updates now in the lower right corner of the Ad-Aware screen.
2. On the Performing WebUpdate screen click Connect.
3. If a New definitions file available! screen appears, click OK to download and install this file.
4. You will see one or more screens indicating the Current Operation being performed.
5. On the Webupdate complete screen click Finish.
   

Next Steps

For more complete spyware protection, CIT recommends that you use two or more anti-spyware utilities. In addition to Ad-Aware, you should install and run Spybot - Search & Destroy.

What if I'm still having trouble?

If you have run both Ad-Aware and Spybot-S&D, and now your system won't boot, won't connect to the net, or won't display web pages, then your system files may have been damaged. Refer to our Winsock Repair Techniques page.