Ad-Aware

On this page:
About Ad-Aware
Install Ad-Aware
Update Ad-Aware (without an Internet connection)
Use Ad-Aware to scan for Spyware

About Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware is an application for Windows that helps protect against spyware.
We recommend using Ad-Aware and/or SpyBot Search & Destroy to keep your computer Spyware-free.

How to install Ad-Aware:

  1. Download Ad-Aware from download.com by searching for Ad-Aware.
     
  2. Next, open the file located on your Desktop.
     
  3. Proceed through the installation process.
     

Update Ad-Aware (without an Internet connection):

In order to download and install these updates they will need to be downloaded from a campus computer lab and saved on a flash drive so you can get them to your computer.

  1. Click Here to download the Ad-Aware definitions to your Desktop.
     
  2. Double click core.zip on your desktop.
     
  3. Click and drag core.aawdef to your desktop.
     
  4. Open the Ad-Aware program by double-clicking the icon on the desktop or by finding it in your programs menu.
     
  5. Click on the Settings icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
     

  6. Under the Updates tab click the Import button.
     

  7. Go to the Desktop and select the core.aawdef file that was downloaded and saved to your desktop earlier.
     
  8. Click Ok to go back to the main Ad-Aware screen.
     
  9. Now that you are updated, follow the instructions to scan for Spyware.
     

Use Ad-Aware to scan for spyware:

  1. Once you have downloaded and installed Ad-Aware open it by double-clicking the icon on the desktop or by finding it in your programs menu.
     
  2. Click the Web Update button to make sure you have the most current definitions.
     

  3. When the update is finished click on Scan System.
     

  4. A smart scan is faster than a full scan. A full scan is suggested if your computer is heavily infected with spyware or if a smart scan did not appear to fix everything. Once you have chosen which scan you want to complete click the scan now button.
     

  5. When the scan is finished it will automatically have a recommended action set for each object it finds. To remove the spyware it finds click on perform actions now.
     

  6. Close the program. Your computer is now spyware free. Run Ad-Aware every week to keep your computer clean and your bandwidth use efficient.