# Is adware no longer free and how do I get this off of my computer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 20, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111 "2004-05-20T03:19:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111/1 "2004-05-20T03:19:39Z")

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Okay, a little background here:  
I just got a new PC and now it seems I accidentally downloaded some spyware/adware (ISTbar).

For some reason, it will NOT allow me to delete the program, it doesn’t show up on Add/Remove, and the Norton instructions to delete it were very confusing.

So I went to download Adaware, as I had it on my old computer.

All that’s available from the site is SpyAssasin, so I download it, thinking it’s also freeware.

It’s not, and Adaware does NOT seem to be available from the site. Help!  
Damn, I HATE this stupid spyware crap! Grrr!!!

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**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111/2 "2004-05-20T03:23:36Z")

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I’m not sure where you were trying to download it from, but if you go to [http://www.lavasoftusa.com](http://www.lavasoftusa.com), it’s available for download. Click “Ad-aware” in the list on the left, in the “Software” section.

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**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111/3 "2004-05-20T03:27:55Z")

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There are bogus sites when you search for adaware. Instead, use the links in my sig.

(and yes it’s still free)

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111/4 "2004-05-20T03:36:42Z")

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I went to [http://www.ada-ware.com/](http://www.ada-ware.com/)

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-adware-no-longer-free-and-how-do-i-get-this-off-of-my-computer/246111/5 "2004-05-20T06:41:38Z")

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Ada-ware IS NOT Ad-Aware- it is a program trying to fake Ad-Awares name. I wonder if Lavasoft could sue them for trademark infringment.