Adaware Antivirus Review

You may have heard of the company, Adaware. They were originally known as Lavasoft AB and have been providing cybersecurity products since 1999. Their flagship product was called Ad-Aware. In 2016, the company changed its name to “Adaware” to reflect the evolution and success of the brand. Presently, Adaware antivirus has been downloaded over 390,000,000 times.

Let’s take a look at this antivirus and see if it’s worth using. We will share the features and highlights, look at its security and reliability, performance, ease of use, scanning options, pros and cons, packages, and pricing, and with all this information, you can make a well-informed decision if this security software is right for you.

Adaware Antivirus Review

First, let’s take a look at some features and highlights that Adaware offers its customers:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Real-time and manual virus protection
  • Scheduled scans available
  • Anti-spyware
  • Anti-worm
  • Anti-trojan
  • Anti-rootkit
  • Anti-spam
  • E-mail protection
  • Adware prevention
  • Compatible with Windows
  • Personal firewall
  • Parental control
  • Ticket support

Reliability and Security

Adaware did not participate in third-party testing in 2018 or 2019. The last test result available is from 2017, so it’s outdated. This test was from AV-Comparatives in November 2017, and the result was that this software blocked 95.4% of all malware during a real-world protection test. While 95.4% may seem OK, it’s not as high as some of its competitors.

The AV-Test lab tests are even older! The last test run on Adaware was in 2013 (yikes!) Back then, this software blocked 97% of zero-day malware attacks and 100% of malware. While those results are positive, it’s clear that this software needs to be tested again soon.

Adaware Antivirus Performance

One thing we like about Adaware is that it doesn’t require many resources to use it on your Windows system. The program uses “high” and “low” modes. In high mode, the program will perform scans in less time but take more resources. In the low mode, it will use fewer resources, but it will take longer to perform scans.

Adaware Scanner

This company’s scans are easy to use and navigate. You have three options for scanning: full scans, quick scans, and custom scans.

The initial full scans take around 45-50 minutes, and the quick scans are only about ten minutes. Custom scans are also available if you need to check certain locations. You can also set up scheduled scans if you want. Most users say that they notice no impact on their systems.

Adaware Adblock

You know the scenario: you’re surfing the web or maybe doing some online shopping, and the ads keep popping up. You have to continuously “X” out of them, and it’s getting annoying.

One cool tool that Adaware offers is the Adblock, and its goal is to keep ads at bay. The company claims this is the fastest blocker out there, and this tool is practical and helpful. Because ads are continuously blocked, you can increase your browser speed by up to 100%.

Ease of Use

Adaware’s installation process is simple. Just download the file to your device and then run it. Once it is installed, you will need to log into your account.

The interface is also simple and intuitive. The main screen shows all the features, and you can either enable or disable each one. The Full Scan button is in the middle of the options, and the shortcuts to the other functions are listed on the left sidebar.

One thing to note is that Adaware is limited in features. Many users also purchase an Adaware Web Companion for more features and protection.

Adaware Packages and Pricing

You have three options for plans with Adaware: free, Pro, and Total. With the free plan, customers get real-time and download protection.

With the Pro, you get real-time protection, plus Network Protection that blocks online attacks and real-time email protection. You also get a firewall for additional protection against network-based threats, and a Shop & Bank Safely Online that will protect your identity when you are banking online. The Pro plan costs $36 per year for one PC.

The Total plan includes all that the Pro plan offers, along with a Digital Lock feature that allows users to encrypt certain files. A File Shredder and a Parental Control is also included. The price for the Total plan is $48 per year for one PC.

For Macs

As of now, Adaware isn’t compatible with Mac computers or mobile devices. Seeing as how this company has evolved in the past few years, this may change sometime soon.

Customer Support

Only Pro and Total users get online technical and customer support. It is available 24/7 via the Adaware website. The company says they will be implementing a ticket system for customers soon.

If you just want information and to browse Frequently Asked Questions, the website provides a plethora of great resources.

Pros and Cons

Let’s look at what we like and don’t like about Adaware.

We like:

  • Simple interface
  • Affordable packages
  • Free version
  • Easy to use
  • Doesn’t overload the system

We don’t like:

  • No recent lab test scores
  • Isn’t compatible with Macs
  • No protection for mobile devices

What’s the Bottom Line?

Those who need basic protection, want an affordable (or free!) solution will benefit from using Adaware. Also, because this software is so easy to set up and use, users who are uncomfortable setting up an advanced antivirus will love the ease of use that Adaware provides.

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