# Fuck you, Ad Aware **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 14, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906 "2004-04-14T03:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bluetrust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@bluetrust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluetrust)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/21 "2004-04-14T22:46:58Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > Isn’t it funny how the OP blames Ad Aware AND the person who recommended it, but not him or herself for using the “auto” option. These things aren’t infallible. > > Get over yourself, admit you fucked up, restore your quarantine list and get on with your life. > > FilmGeek - ad aware and spybot S&D user because of these boards. > [@](#): > > Damaged Winsock > > The “Winsock” is the Windows networking system for TCP/IP, the Internet protocol. The design of the Winsock allows legitimate add-on software to plug itself into the system, in order to add or change network functionality. These “Winsock plugins” are called “LSPs”. Unfortunately, this means that malicious software can plug itself into the Winsock as well. > > Early versions of AdAware and SpyBot would sometimes damage the Winsock when removing malicious LSPs. Current versions are not known to have this problem, as great care is being taken to avoid it. If it appears that your Windows networking has been damaged by the removal of a piece of malware, the LSP-Fix site at [CEXX.org](http://CEXX.org) has a discussion of the issue and a piece of software that may fix the problem. However, in some cases, the only way to fix a truly broken network system in Windows XP is to reinstall the OS. Hey asshole, AdAware is to blame, not the OP. Try searching for “adaware winsock” on Google. Whoa, look at that, it recklessly deletes registry keys necessary for browser operation! It can also fail to remove spyware attached to winsock! Sometimes it’s even necessary to reinstall Windows XP! AdAware is a reckless piece of shit masquerading as a trustworthy program for removing spyware. In my experience, I’ve seen three laptops with their internet connection broken within the last year by AdAware. One of those laptops was mine. If a doctor accidentally cut off my hand when I went in for an infected fingernail, I’m going to be pissed at the doctor’s incompetence, just like the OP is, and I’m going to have a right to complain. Bluetrust - Computer programmer for 15 years Owner of [AloofHosting.com](http://AloofHosting.com) ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/22 "2004-04-14T23:16:17Z")
> [@bluetrust](#): > > If a doctor accidentally cut off my hand when I went in for an infected fingernail, I’m going to be pissed at the doctor’s incompetence, just like the OP is, and I’m going to have a right to complain. This is an excellent analogy. Except that unlike a doctor, neither AdAware or the SDMB user who recommended it were performing a service for the OP, but instead providing the OP with a tool to fix a problem. And doctors get paid. And having to reinstall Windows isn’t quite the same as losing a hand. On second thought, it’s not a good analogy at all. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/23 "2004-04-14T23:21:18Z")
[quoteCurrent versions are not known to have this problem, as great care is being taken to avoid it.[/quote] Yeah what a horrific piece of shit. They had a problem in early versions that they took ‘great care’ to aviod in newer releases. We should take them out and burn them alive for their free program that wasn’t perfect from the moment it was developed. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/24 "2004-04-14T23:45:31Z")
> [@bluetrust](#): > > If a doctor accidentally cut off my hand when I went in for an infected fingernail, I’m going to be pissed at the doctor’s incompetence, just like the OP is, and I’m going to have a right to complain. Seriously, though - “piece of human excrement” for recommending in good faith a program with a bug that affects very few people? Come on, now. Your own quote suggests that they’ve fixed it, and the site hosting the fix tool continues to recommend Ad-Aware for spyware removal. As does the site you quote, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/25 "2004-04-14T23:53:01Z")
> [@mouthbreather](#): > > I’m not crazy about adaware or spybot. They both work for somethings, but even with updated definitions, they were missing a piece of spyware on my PC. > > [Webroot’s Spysweeper](http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php) is, in my opinion, better than either of them. But, like crack, the first one’s always free. They give you a free install and free updates for 30 days but then after 30 days you pay for the updates. SpySweeper is a little overzealous in wanting to quarrantine some of your cookies, but overall I liked it the best of the three. > [Here’s](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1523288,00.asp) a link to PC Magazine’s review of the product. I thought this was interesting, so I decided to experiment a little. I’ve always had AdAware on this machine, so I ran it through. It found 129 pieces of questionable data. Then I downloaded Spybot-it only found 42 pieces. Then I downloaded SpySweeper. Fuck is the engine on this thing slow! It is currently sitting at 82 pieces found. 78 of those are cookies. So it looks like AdAware is the winner. Sam ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/26 "2004-04-14T23:56:12Z")
Adware and Spybot use different methods so they get different results (like reg cleaners for instance…I run three and they all get different things) I use Adware and Spybot on a regular basis. Spybot never gets anything anymore but the first few times I used it it really got some nasty crap out of my system that adware didn’t do anything to. ---
**Author:** ![Karmagun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Karmagun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karmagun)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/27 "2004-04-15T00:33:41Z")
> [@bluetrust](#): > > Hey asshole, AdAware is to blame, not the OP. Watch your language, please. > [@](#): > > Bluetrust - Computer programmer for 15 years Basic or Logo? > [@](#): > > Owner of [AloofHosting.com](http://AloofHosting.com) Plug! Plug! Now seriously, when Ad-aware finishes scanning your system it presents you with a list of items that are by default unchecked, i.e. they will not be deleted unless you make an effort to delete them. Usually, the great majority of what it finds are cookies. If they’re there, it will discover running processes such as Gator. Anyway, if you have the option to delete or not delete a file, and you even have the option to restore the files you’ve deleted… What was that line about casting the stone if you’re without sin? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/28 "2004-04-15T00:36:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Whoa, look at that, it recklessly deletes registry keys necessary for browser operation! Actually, it recklessly deletes registry keys that had already been corrupted by malicious software. Do I get to call you an asshole now? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/29 "2004-04-15T01:33:24Z")
Out of curiosity, can you tell us the URL where you downloaded Ad Aware? As far as I know, [www.adaware.com](http://www.adaware.com) and [www.ad-aware.com](http://www.ad-aware.com) are two different locations. One is Ada Ware, one is Ad-Aware. I confess I’m no expert in either program, but I did observe when I tried going to [adaware.com](http://adaware.com) I didn’t seem to get to exactly what I wanted. Ada Ware claimed (when I last visited) to have a spyware-removing program. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/30 "2004-04-15T02:27:28Z")
> [@Fish](#): > > Out of curiosity, can you tell us the URL where you downloaded Ad Aware? As far as I know, [www.adaware.com](http://www.adaware.com) and [www.ad-aware.com](http://www.ad-aware.com) are two different locations. One is Ada Ware, one is Ad-Aware. > > I confess I’m no expert in either program, but I did observe when I tried going to [adaware.com](http://adaware.com) I didn’t seem to get to exactly what I wanted. Ada Ware claimed (when I last visited) to have a spyware-removing program. [http://www.lavasoftusa.com/](http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) Accept no substitutes. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/31 "2004-04-15T04:16:18Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > So it looks like AdAware is the winner. Well, obviously, use what you think is best for you. But, as stated above, last time I had spyware on my machine, both spybot and adaware were not picking it up. Spysweeper got it. I’ll stick with them. But, you are correct that that scan takes a while. I usually kick it off when I about to step away from the PC and let it run. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/32 "2004-04-15T17:55:47Z")
> [@mouthbreather](#): > > Well, obviously, use what you think is best for you. But, as stated above, last time I had spyware on my machine, both spybot and adaware were not picking it up. > > Spysweeper got it. I’ll stick with them. > > But, you are correct that that scan takes a while. I usually kick it off when I about to step away from the PC and let it run. IME, Adaware is less caustic, Spybot is more thorough. I run Adaware first because it’s less likely to prune something necessary, and if Adaware still hasn’t managed to kill whatever is annoying my user, I run Spybot and cross my fingers. But that’s just my experience. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![bluetrust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@bluetrust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluetrust)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/33 "2004-04-15T18:32:04Z")
> [@Karmagun](#): > > Watch your language, please. > Basic or Logo? > Plug! Plug! > What was that line about casting the stone if you’re without sin? My software doesn’t damage users’ computers irrepairably. And that wasn’t a plug of my site, but a statement of my qualifications. I manage 8,000 websites – photos of your cat looking cute aren’t going to make or break my business. I’ll add to my original statement of dislike for AdAware that once it breaks the internet connection, the restore feature doesn’t return the system to its pre-AdAware state. If it did, I’d have said, “sometimes it screws up, but just hit the restore button and try another program.” ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/34 "2004-04-15T19:07:45Z")
Count me as another happy Adaware user. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/35 "2004-04-15T19:09:13Z")
> [@bluetrust](#): > > My software doesn’t damage users’ computers irrepairably. Apparently your software is so good that you’ve never needed to release an updated version, as you seem to have glossed over the text of _your exact quote_. Bolded text is my emphasis. > [@](#): > > **Early versions** of AdAware and SpyBot would sometimes damage the Winsock when removing malicious LSPs. **Current versions** are not known to have this problem, as great care is being taken to avoid it. Now, neither of us know what version of AdAware the OP used, but you do look a little fast on the trigger there, sport. Unless, of course, you’ve never written a bug. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/36 "2004-04-15T19:52:31Z")
> [@lno](#): > > Unless, of course, you’ve never written a bug. _I’ve_ never written a bug. I write features. I’ve written features to erase pay history, features to create a blank screen, features to … well, features to do darn near anything the user never knew they wanted! ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/37 "2004-04-15T19:59:26Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > _I’ve_ never written a bug. I write features. I’ve written features to erase pay history, features to create a blank screen, features to … well, features to do darn near anything the user never knew they wanted! In that case, I don’t write bugs or features – I write job security. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/38 "2004-04-16T12:26:09Z")
Woo! 8,000 websites! that really qualifies you to rubbish Adaware. Do any of your websites host ad banners for Gator, Bonzi buddy, Claria, My Fun Web Stuff, Precision time, Date manager, or any of the other crap that clogs up machines? I use Adaware on a considerable number of machines and have found it to be a thoroughly brilliant tool. But I suppose my qualifications don’t include managing 8,000 websites so maybe my opinion doesn’t count. I don’t dance the hoochie-coo either. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/39 "2004-04-16T13:13:50Z")
I have used AdAware on literally hundreds of different computers in the last two years, and only two of them suffered any ill effects, ie winsock damage, which was easily repaired. And that was with Adaware 5.0, which had a problem with winsock and newdotnet. > [@GaWd](#): > > I thought this was interesting, so I decided to experiment a little. > > I’ve always had AdAware on this machine, so I ran it through. It found 129 pieces of questionable data. > > Then I downloaded Spybot-it only found 42 pieces. Yeah, but if you look close, they are not all the same items. Spybot finds stuff that Adaware doesn’t, and vice versa. Just yesterday I serviced a computer that had 842 items cleaned under Adaware, then Spybot found an additional 65 items. I use both, the old belt-_and_-suspenders approach. ---
**Author:** ![Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Horrifying\_Howler\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horrifying_Howler_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906/40 "2004-04-16T13:25:46Z")
I do tech support one of the largests ISPs in the States. To my knowledge ad-aware is the only 3rd party software we recommend customers install. We aren’t even allowed to recommend an anti-virus program for fear it will damage something on the computer and we will be held responsible. I’ve never gotten a call where someone has had a problem with it either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-you-ad-aware/239906.md?page=3)