Thoughts about everything

Its time for an update – Lavasoft released a new “big” version of their software; Ad-aware. Before we start I must say that since I wrote my previous guide things got a bit different there. For example for a few weeks it detected one of its own DLL-s as a malware – which is odd and weird, while other times it had server issues (couldn’t update it), but right now it seems that they finally fixed those issues. Another issue was that after update even though the updater reinitialized the software it didn’t start. This problem seemed to be fixed – or at least for the first update.

So let’s start!

First, you should uninstall your current version and reboot your computer. While there are people who say it is unnecessary, I got tons of “why this and that doesn’t work, why it exist with random error” related questions so First uninstall and REBOOT.

Than visit http://www.lavasoft.com/ and download the software.

Double click on the software and soon you will be able to select your language.

If you are Running Windows 7 or Vista, install it in Administrator Mode!









After you selected it click OK and it will take you to the next screen. Click on the “Next” button.
READ the license than click on “I accept the terms of the license agreement” Now click on “Customize installation” and it will take you to the so called “advanced” section.
Here you can set up your installation directory as well as shortcut settings. After you set it up click on next.





Now you will have an option to install Google Chrome. Personally I’d stick with FF (Firefox), but if you want to try it its up to you. Click on “Install Ad-Aware Only” than click next.



Now this will take you to a tricky section. Ad-Watch live is available only if you buy the software, so even if you decide to install it all you’ll get is another process to waste your memory.
There is a new option called “Download Guard for Internet Explorer”.
Personally I think that anyone who uses IE for other purposes than access to Windows / Microsoft Update should be shot and hanged immediately. For God Sakes USE Firefox OPERA OR EVEN CHROME! Obviously you won’t need it this thing either.



Click on next than Install. After the installation is complete, click on finish and it will open up the software. (YAY) Or not?
[It will start to update itself – May I ask why? I expected to get a new version with current database but what you get right now is a not up to date software, since neither the definitions nor the program files are up to date… Oh well]





So anyways after the update you expect to be able to run it. But guess what? It applies a new patch before you could say: “Fuck” and restarts itself immediately. So after the second update it’ll be up and running.
You’ll see a message about the new “outlook”. It starts in simple mode - a new feature – which is totally nonsense – so click on the advanced mode icon which is located on the left corner and you’ll be surprised to see that it is the exact same as it was in the previous edition.











When you click on settings you’ll see that most of the settings are the same. There are some new features but you have to buy it if you want to use them (you probably won’t do either xD)
In the Update section you’ll notice Threatwork Alliance as a new feature – it sends information about your results – totally unnecessary if you ask me but if you feel like giving out information it’s up to you.



The profile Scan section remained the same – don’t forget to unselect the “Skip larger files than” option – unless you don’t want to scan big files.




Under the Live section you can’t really change anything – unless you buy it.





Under customize there is a new –unavailable feature - Called “Do not disturb” – sounds pointless anyways. If you are annoyed by its icon on your taskbar you can unselect “Show notification Area Icon” Also if you don’t want to use or see it in the right-click menu you can unselect that too. You can also change the language and skin if you want to. If you are done click OK. You are done configuring – YAY.





Now lets more to the Scan section – because obviously you gonna scan your computer right?

The same scan methods are available – Smart, Full, and profile. You can set up the profile scan in the settings under profile scan but you should rather stick to the first two – profile and smart.
A smart scan checks only the critical areas while the full scan scans the whole drive. You should check your computer every day once with smart scan and a full scan once per week.








Under Quarantine you can see your quarantined items - if you have one – and under ignore list you shouldn’t see anything – nor should you ignore anything.






Settings under Ad-Watch are obviously unavailable.





Under Extras in the TrackSweep section you can clean your tracks if you want to – and you can’t really do anything under the toolbox section.




Now that we know everything about Ad-aware we should start a smart or full scan. I recommend a full scan for the first time.

After it is done, you can select what to do with the results – leave it on recommended or select remove all – it’s the same






After it is done for the first time it’ll show up the Threatwork Alliance notification – thank God you only have to click once on “No Thanks” and it won’t ever show up again.






Summing it up I think that during the last few months they fixed the most noticeable issues, made their software faster and it is starting to worth money again.


This is the end of the guide – if you have any question feel free to leave a comment.


©By Stomyr

You must be logged in as an administrator in order to install and configure NOD

First download the software from www.eset.com – KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU SHOULD DOWNLOAD THE NEW 3.x Version!!!


On the First screen welcome – and click on next

Now READ and accept license -– and click on next


Click on custom – and click on next


Select folder – and click on next


Enter username and password if you registered – and click on next


If you use dial-up connection select "I use Dial-up (Modem) Internet connection"

If you use Proxy server select it - if you are unsure leave the settings alone – and click on next


Was really shocked that after so many years, and so many new versions why Eset still doesn’t automatically update program components - since of course you'll need it. So click change then select "Perform program component upgrade if available". Then click on ok, and then click on next.


If you wish to protect the settings set it now - and / or click next


About TreatSense.Net: If you are worried about your privacy, then uncheck the box - most users don't use this at all- so why would you install it?) However if you want to use this feature click on advanced then set your e-mail.
Click on next.

Of course you want to enable the detection of potentially unsafe applications. – click on next.

Install



Click on icon, then to setup, then "Toggle to advanced mode”, then "Enter entire advanced setup tree"

Then to options, then select " "Antivirus and Antispyware” then "TreatSense engine" parameter Setup"
Click on Options, and select “Potentially unsafe applications”
Under cleaning it is not recommend to move the slider – however if you want the biggest security move the slider to “Strict cleaning”
If you wish to log everything, click on “Other” and select “Log all objects”
Click on Ok

Now click on “Real-time file system protection” then on setup.
Under “Objects” select “Runtime Packers”
Under Options Select “Potentially Unsafe applications”
If you want the biggest security select “Advanced Heuristics” – however it may decrease the scanner’s performance on low-end systems.
Under cleaning it is not recommend to move the slider – however if you want the biggest security move the slider to “Strict cleaning”
If you wish to log everything, click on “Other” and select “Log all objects”
Click on Ok


“Email Protection” click on Microsoft Outlook – even if you don’t use it (Because others might use it – or an exploit might force you to use it) and select “Scan pain text email body” and “Scan RTF email body”
Click on “Action”, and select and select “Delete email”
Click on Ok


Click on “Web Access Protection”, then on “Setup”. Under “Objects” select “Potentially Unsafe applications”
Under “Cleaning” IT IS RECOMMENDED to put the slider to “Strict Cleaning”
If you wish to log everything, click on “Other” and select “Log all objects”
Click on Ok

Click on “On-demand computer scan”, then to “Setup”
Click on “Objects”, and select “Email files” Under Options, select “Potentially unsafe applications”
Under “Cleaning” IT IS RECOMMENDED to put the slider to “Strict Cleaning”
If you wish to log everything, click on “Other” and select “Log all objects”
At “Scan targets” select “Local drives” AND SELECT “OPERATING MEMORY” FROM THE LIST TOO!
Click on Ok

If you wish to get a notification when the computer gets a virus click on “Alerts and Notifications” under “Tools” and set the settings.

If you wish to speed up the software, (Why not? XD) then click on “User Interface” and deselect “Use animated controls” and “Use animated icons for progress indication”.

Click on Ok.
Now in the Menu, click on tools, and click on “Scheduler”, and select everything – so the software will be always up-to date.


If you have problems feel free to contact me.




©Stomyr