First and foremost, a big thank you to LavaSoft for providing me (and countless others) with one of the best antispyware products available ... and that would include pay-for products as well. I have relied on Ad-Aware as a trusted pc friend for many years and certainly will continue to do so.

Although I don't wish to influence the integrity of the poll, as its creator I will state upfront that I recently upgraded to Ad-Aware 2007 from SE and found it comparatively cumbersome. After about a week, I decided the simplicity and quick efficiency of SE was the way to go for me ... even if I now have to manually download updated definitions' files. I sincerely hope LavaSoft will reconsider it's decision to discontinue SE and revert to making updated definitions' files available with the convenient auto-download link on SE.

Thank you LavaSoft, and all who this way pass.

I have to agree with SJesMe. I found SE much easer to use and to quarantine items found. After a scan with 2007, I don't know if the items found were quarantined or not. When I try to quarantine them, nothing happens, and when I hit finish, I get the message "There are unhandled objects, do you still want to finish?" I have been looking on the support site here and can't find anything related to this.

I also would like to say "Thank You" to LS for this free product, it's great! I just perfer SE over 2007.

If anyone has the same problem with trying to quarantine items found, please let me know. Thanks.

Airblair

I have spent a hundred hours or more helping people when the server would not download the updates months ago.
It was an error in the way the servers were set up (DNS) by Lavasoft.
LAVASOFT - Why should you waste millions of man hours of the computer people of the world, and make them mad at you again?? Why can't the product continue as it is as far as the SE version? Why should you suffer the ill feelings of the people when they all loved you before? What is better about not using SE if I am an XP user that wants only to scan weekly?
And now I am waiting because your server won't pick up this update and it keep failing. WE NEVER HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS WITH SPYBOT !! YOU DID NOT EVEN WARN US ABOUT THIS - I ONLY GOT THE 15 DAYS OLD MESSAGE AND CAM LOOKING.
I SUSPECT THAT THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF YOUR FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN THROWN TO THE WOLVES WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN !! DO YOU EVEN CARE? I AM LOOKING ELSEWHERE. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT US AT ALL !!
IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD SHOW IT. THEY HAVE JUST WASTED AN HOUR OF MY TIME AGAIN ! !! IT STOPS HERE !!!

And, just so you'll know, I would pay $10 right now to keep the old version working. I do not need another project ! Who else? How about $5 if you can't scrape up $10?

One more plea to keep the updates available for SE -- even if they have to be downloaded manually (tho' the automatic facility is nice!).

I'm running 2007 on my desktop, and I don't find it any better than SE -- and less easy to use. However, on my old laptop I'm still using WinME because I like it (am I the last, or are there still one or two others out there?), so I really have no choice -- it's SE or nothing... Alternatives I've looked at don't seem as good, so I'm a definite vote for keeping it![/size]

Ad-Aware SE is much better to use. My specific situation is that I have no access to a high speed line (for me 56k would be high speed.) 2007 gives me few controls and takes lots longer to update. Everything the previous responses have said is true. It's clunky and confusing. I'm an IT professional and I was so frustrated that I removed the 2007 to go back to SE. I also help others with their computers and often they are older with ME or 98. 2007 doesn't help them there either. I have always recommended your products, and 2007 is great if you want a totally hands off solution. I didn't even know that you were discontinuing SE until it quit getting updates. My hope is that you will bring back updates for SE (even if its an FTP site) or make 2007 less clunky. 2007 reminds me a lot of windows live one, and I'm looking to replace that when it's year runs out because I have no control and it's very clunky.

Well, I've just voted, looks like it's unanimous so far! I agree with just about everything that's been said on this thread. One major reason why I prefer SE is that I couldn't get 2007 to work at all and from what I saw it's a somewhat bloated program - 2007 is a 20+MB download and I think SE was less than 5MB!
I doubt if anyone uses Ad-Aware (or any other program) as their only anti-spyware/adware program and I never had any conflicts with other programs on my PC when I was using SE; I've no idea if it would be the same with 2007.
Like sdsman, I use dial-up and the best speed I get is 44Kbps, but this was never a problem with SE.
Go on, Lavasoft - let us keep our Ad-Aware SE...Please?

I realize there is a lot of sentiment for the old SE version of Ad-Aware but frankly it is simply obsolete. It was designed back in something like 2002 when malware was much different than the malware issues we face today. It was woefully inadequate against today's newer threats and Ad-Aware 2007 has been completely redesigned from the ground up to deal with these new threats.

Take a good look at what is new depending on what version you are using:


What's New In Ad-aware 2007 Free
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=9453

What's New In Ad-aware 2007 Plus
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=9452

What's New In Ad-aware 2007 Pro
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=9452

There are many more reasons for this new version

I'm sure that if you think about the difference in the malware scene and operating systems of today you can see why the old SE which no longer performs up to par and has been rebuilt to the new Ad-aware 2007

Thank you for your reply Calamity Jane; it is encouraging to know that the Adminstrators of LavaSoft are listening.

While I am sure that LavaSoft would not have created/revamped their product unless they believed there was a need for it, it is obvious that there are issues that adversely affect the end user in terms of sheer size, compatibility and ease of use. Like any overhauled software, there are bound to be bugs and glitches that take time to iron out (think: Vista), and a learning curve that many will not want to bother with; but it goes without saying that we ALL will benefit from as smooth a transition as possible ... and the ultimate goal is to have a reliable, easy-to-use product, is it not?

There are dozens of help forums that recommend Ad-Aware. It is a widely depended upon antispyware utility. The bottom line is that it should continue to be a simple, efficient, universally compatible product with as small a footprint as possible and a simple, user-friendly interface. Ad-Aware 2007 in its current form, is not.

There is no way that I can agree more with SJesMe!!!!!

I've used Ad-aware ever since it first came out. I'm _extremely_ disappointed (and even a bit angry ) that Lavasoft would follow in the footsteps of M$' HastaLaVista!!! There is no way I'm EVER going to use Ad-Aware 2007. It is nothing but buggy, bloatware...just like HastaLaVista.

Up until this point I have recommended Ad-Aware to countless others...both personally and all over the net on Forum and Message Boards. I've done this for __YEARS__! No longer will I recommend Lavasoft products!!!

Ad-Aware _WILL_ be uninstalled from my computers a well as those of friends whom I do computer work for and SUPERAntispy will be Ad-Aware's replacement!

My screen name is not a coincidence. I am "One more" asking "please, don't kill SE"

My reasons:
I use several graphic programs, including some plug-ins. As an experienced user, I try to provide help and advice for these programs in several Forums.
In 2003 a group of users reported freezing and crashing problems with the plug-ins. It was a plague. I studied the problem for weeks and then I discovered a malware causing the problem. I installed Lavasoft, ran it and... problem solved!

As a consequence of this, I recommended (and recommend) the Lavasoft products (specially SE) in several Forums, as a step to prevent and solve problems. I received many e-mails reporting SE as an excellent solution. In addition, several reports of users with less computer abilities, stated how easy and intuitive SE was. It is not the case with 2007

I understood Calamity Jane reasons (I don't agree we have emotional reasons), but I don't think that Granny Mary will understand them

So.... Release "SE - Nostalgia Edition" or "SE - for historic users" . Or release a patch we can sign "I Accept", assuming the risks, but allowing the automatic updates

Unfortunately we can't support two Antispyware products. Ad-Aware 2007 just works entirely different from SE and has many new options built into it to keep the program up to date for new threats and even yet undiscovered threats that SE doesn't have. Just keeping up the updates for two different programs would be a nightmare. But really, it is because today's malware uses entirely different tactics and techniques. SE was great in it's lifetime, but even all good things must keep up with new technology. The bad guys have and so must we.

I was reading this outlook for malware trends in 2008 and pretty much agree with all said in this article:
http://www.f-secure.com/2007/2/index.html

Well, I totally agree with the Admistrator, Ad-Aware 2007 is an excellent program that is prepared for any eventuality rising on the net. Yeap, 2007 was the 'Malware Year' for XP. Mi rimetto alle prove... http://www.f-secure.com/2007/2/index.html

On the other hand, the Administrators need to realize that Ad-Aware 2007, although this program has the best infraestructure that lack plenty of spyware applications available, has a lot of issues, 'hang-ups', and crashes. I don't know what's the use for Ad-Watch been running as a process in the Free Edition.

So, let's hope Lavasoft gives us, in the near future, a problem-free version of Ad-Aware. If not, they will see already-costumers migrating to other solution, and potentially ones searching anywhere else.

Thanks
http://westminsterbay.spaces.live.com/

I do, of course, understand the reasons. What I, and apparently many others, hope for is a simpler, less "clunky" and more familiar user interface. The controls and user interface of SE, together with the power of 2007? Not being a programmer, I have no idea if this is possible ... but I think LavaSoft should pay attention to the feedback of its users in a strong effort to make the one and only antispyware product that they CAN support, one that the most people will feel comfortable using.

It is also my concern that most current users are not even aware that their current version has been terminated. At the very least, when one seeks to update SE definitions files, a notification should pop up telling them that the service has been discontinued in favor of 2007.

Like others......dismayed.
I'm still using Win98SE so 2007 is not an option!

Hello,

I found out, the hard way, that "new" does not necessarily mean "better."

I, like many others, installed Ad Aware 2007 without researching it first. (Remember:Research it first!) My computer slowed to a crawl. I uninstalled AA 2007. I used to be a happy customer when I was using SE--but I am happy no more.

I won't re-install AA 2007. I'm tired of "money-making-machine" companies who offer "new and improved" products that do nothing but create misery for the user.

Thank you for AA SE Personal. You can keep your AA 2007.

Good luck to all SE users!

I tried '2007' a while back, and agree with the previous posters. My biggers concern is that it had to have 2 processes running just to make a scan. i usually do a scan once every month so i dont want a lot of useless processes running for nothing... im not a big fan of programs that sneaks in stuff like that and makes it autostart (when i use it 1 time/month).

Ive always recommended ad-aware because of the easy-to-use interface, low resource usage and fast update, but also because i knew for a fact that it would Never delete anything that should be there. With this new version im not so sure.. this new version isnt even backward compatible (prob because of the running service part). So you're enforcing people to update their operating system or change to another anti-spyware program that is. Thus loosing alot of clients.


Looking forward to a version more like SE

One more "One More" here...

As my previous posts bear witness, I too tried 2007 - firstly back in July 2007, and then again in October 2007.

2007 versus SE PLUS is, IMHO, NFG.

On both occasions, the AdWatch function of 2007 failed to pick-up tracking cookies before they landed - and then the 2007 Scan function failed to find and / or delete them. My Spybot S&D had to do the job.

After both of these July & October "experiments with 2007", I uninstalled 2007 and re-installed SE PLUS - result: Spybot S&D (and also the scan-function of SE Plus) are once again effectively redundant...! There's simply nothing to delete, as SE Plus AdWatch actually works...!

I agree with LS CalamityJane's many worthy and worthwhile arguments and supporting evidence, that SE has run out of capacity to absorb further developments, and therefore is not as "FutureProof" as 2007. However I cannot agree with the conclusion that she / LavaSoft have reached, vis a vis that this is the reason for stopping the Database Development and subsequent Updates for SE.

That's akin to a Red Indian Chief taking all of the bows and arrows away from his warriors, simply because the Pale Faces have rifles!

And at the risk of stretching this analogy to its ultimate limit, these Red Indian Warriors have the choice of:
1) Finding another source of weaponry (sticks, stones, catapaults, water-well poisonning, etc.), free or otherwise.
2) Finding another supplier of bows-and-arrows, free or otherwise, even though they've already paid the existing Chief for a lifetime's supply of perfectly workable bows and arrows.
3) Buying rifles, struggling to learn how to use them whilst finding that they regularly blow-up in their faces - on-top-of alienating their existing cultural heritage and Warrior-Ways.
4) Surrendering to the Pale Faces, and end up turning all of their Real Estate into a massive Gambling Arcade.

Well, this Red Indian isn't about to turn all of his PC "Real Estate" over to "GoldenCasino".
I'm not going to pay "BowsN'ArrowsR'Us" to be an alternative supplier of weaponry which I already use and own - and in MY hands is more-than-a-match for General Custer and his rifles. After all, I've still got the Bow - all I need from my existing supplier is a healthy supply of Arrows!

No - I'm going to wait for my Chief to develop and provide the promised rifle, as foretold in "The Smoke Signals": one that that doesn't blow-up in my face, and is as easy to use and is as kill-efficient as my existing weapon.

It's not as if I'm asking for a single leap from "Bows-And-Arrows" to "Nuclear Capability" is it?

Toke on the Peace-Pipe anyone?

Jane: My main reason for preferring the old, SE is bacause I can not tell what the cookies marked for removal actually are in the 2007 version whereas what in SE a cookie is easily identified.

Back in October I downloaded 2007 after getting my notebook back with a new HD (SE on the old, dead HD). I saved a posting I made elsewhere to demonstrate what I got with 2007:

As an example, here is the, "file information," on the first 4 of 9 tracking cookies found with a 2007 scan:

index.dat questionarket.com ES /
index.dat questionarket.com CS1 /
index.dat adversising.com C2 /
index.dat adversising.com ACID /
[end of saved example]

No way can I tell what these are. There are certain cookies I do want to save, like for two sites where I get TV programming and two other, technology discussion sites where I want the cookies that keep me permanently signed-in. With SE, no problem. With 2007? Impossible to tell what's what with the cookies so that I ended up deleting things I really did NOT want to delete--it's a pain selecting TV stations all over again just because 2007 made it impossible for me to spot the cookie.

It was in October I last tried. Although I did use the free version, I would gladly pay for something that showed cookies as the now obsolete SE did.

Until I read here that the cookie identification situation I experience has been addresses, I shall use the obsolete SE and a few other programs. 2007 as it stood in October, does not work for me.

All analogies between Indian Chiefs and bows and arrows weaponry aside, I continue to monitor this post in the hope that LavaSoft is paying attention and note, with some dismay, that it has been a week since Calamity Jane offered any response to any of the issues that continue to be raised.

At the risk of being redundant, I will ask again if it is not possible to more smoothly transition between SE and 2007 with the more familiar user interface of SE and what is claimed to be the more powerful

I have to agree with Creekside's complaint that 2007 is less clear with regard to the origin of the cookies it recommends removal of; and with Mr. Kajak's assessment that one has to work harder to simply control what 2007 does and when.

In addition, 2007 apparently assumes that there are no operating systems in existence beyond XP and Vista. I will reiterate that it is admirable for any company (I begrudingly include Microsoft) to do it's utmost to keep up to date with the mind-boggling array of needs and potential compromises presented in cyber-technology; but it is wrong, wrong, wrong to force users into using new versions of software that are necessarily wanted by the end-user and/or able to perform satisfactorily in their intended applications.

Did I say it was wrong?

Jane

Forget sentiment, it worked.
Why do I have to have resident processes running if the free program does not use them.
It's heavy on resource, no one told us se wasn't being updated it just stopped working.
Yea I tried 2007, took it off and put se back on but as you ain't supporting it no more it's time to change to an alternative product, not only on my p.c but also on those that I maintain and consult on.
Lavasoft realy has shot it's self in the foot with this one.

Phil

Hi, for some of us whether 2007 or SE is better or worse doesnt enter into the equation. I am running WinME and I cannot change to AA2007.

Jane can you please let us know for how long LS will provide manual Definition updates for SE? A month, a year, longer?

Ciao

For anyone with questions about old issues please check the "Software updates" thread in which programs updates are posted to give you an idea of what problems are resolved, new features added, etc.
If you tried Ad-Aware 2007 at an earlier date, it is quite possible that your conflict of program may have already been addressed (and fixed) by now.

This is the topic to follow for program updates and it can be found pinned at the top of the Ad-Aware 2007 subforum.
Software Updates
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=9870
Note: Program updates are different than Definition file updates. These are actually updates to the program for bug resolutions or new features/services, etc.


@feb


If you are referring to the service, you can find an explanation of how that works and why here:
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?s...ost&p=55534
posted Sept. 26, in a update to the software that greatly reduced the problem for many folks.

Also, more about the service can be found here on our Ad-Aware 2007 FAQ page

http://www.lavasoft.com/support/faq_aaw2007.php#15


@WinneThePooh
The manual updates for SE are mainly provided for the use of the select versions of Ad-Aware that do not have Ad-Aware 2007 available yet (I believe that would be our commercial customers and users of the Enterprise version, plus our blind users)
So, I cannot say for how much longer you will be able to obtain updates manual for the obsolete Ad-Aware SE Personal. It stated on the Support Center pages that updates will be not issued after Dec. 31.
http://www.lavasoft.com/support/supportcenter/index.php


@Ruy


For most of our millions of users, they do not have any problems with Ad-Aware and if they did earlier, a lot of early bugs have been worked out already (posted in the "Software Updates" topic I linked above)
What we are mostly seeing at the momment is problems with Ad-Aware and other 3rd party software that conflicts or causing Ad-Aware to malfunction (or some other unique system problems, such as the need to update the Windows installers, etc.)
Any known issues are currently being worked on constantly as our developers become aware of them If they can be fixed, they will. Sometimes it is often just a matter of finding out what is causing the conflict in the first place and then we work help users resolve those issues. Our Development Team does indeed watch these forums and read the threads to identify and eliminate any remaining bugs. Or, they also look here for suggestions and ideas on improving the product to our user's needs and wishes.

@ gelert I'm not sure about the issues you had with Ad-Watch and blocking cookies. I seem to recall that may be one they are currently working on - or perhaps the fix has already been made - I'll have to check on that one.

@creekside creekside: You questions are probably best raised in a individual topic. Looking at your list, I see the index.dat which would indicate you need to be sure you have your browsers closed to "fix" those items. I could be misreading your post. Check for the subject: cookies in the numerous existing threads to see if your problem is resolved already.

@SJesMeIf your problem was also about cookies, I'd say try to look around and see if this hasn't already been addressed. As for not recognizing other OS's it is only support for Windows 98 and ME that has been dropped and that is because those operating systems are now way out of support by Microsoft and they are now "end of life" and that was primarily the reason we no longer develop Ad-Aware for those systems.

Ad-Aware 2007 does work on the following Operating Systems and Browsers:


Operating Systems

Windows 2000 (Pro and Server)

Windows Server 2003

Windows XP (Home and Pro)

Windows Vista (32 bit)

Web Browsers

Internet Explorer (version 5.5 or higher)

Firefox (version 1.5 or higher)

Opera (version 9 or higher)

I don't understand what you are trying to state about smoother transition of SE to 2007? Is there a specific problem there you are seeing?

"index.dat" files are not cookies and are a totally different type of file. I use Spybot Search & Destroy in its Advanced mode to get rid of index.dat files. Simply go to the top left corner of SS&D to switch modes. Then click the Tools Tab at the bottom left corner. Click on Secure Shredder then where it says Templates near the top left corner, click on that and choose each type of file you want "Shredded". You'll notice at the bottom there is a place to select how many times you want these files to be "Shredded".

BTW: I always run SS&D FIRST and then I ran A-A (I used to consider A-A the quintessential companion to SS&D up until now) to pick up what SS&D isn't designed to look for and what little it missed otherwise.

I hope this helps! Good Luck!

the 2007 version is a freakshow...

everything about it is bad, slow installs too much bloat, including a service.. my god!

Its free but guys... make your new version LEANER, its an antispyware program not an operating system! lol

I say that the old version is 2000 times better, and I was avoiding the 2007 version until now..

as I can see, the polls prefer the older version... and that one was the one I always promoted and told people about, WARNING them to NOT update to the new one.. lol

I suggest that you reconsider the end of automatic updates for the old one... If microsoft decided to extend support for XP (because everyone thinks vista is horrible and are avoiding it)
I think you guys can do that too.

Sorry to be abrupt and almost insulting.. I am doing this to get the message through as clear as possible (BECAUSE I CARE)... I know this is a free product.. but I want you to know what the techs are thinking since I am one of them.

Ok, you are not understanding or reading, then, what I have posted here over and over. The service is a very necessary upgrade of the core engine here. Yes, upgrade! If you are a tech then you will definitely understand our need to upgrade the program to deal with today's malware which is certainly not leaner to remove these days! Many other malware removers have gone to the same GUI/service model as we have for very good reasons!

For one, the service/GUI model is rapidly spreading throughout the industry. It is not just for Vista, but offers enhanced performance in any OS version with a range of group permission options for different users.

Remember that processes inherit their permissions from the owner. If a limited user starts a program, say a scanner, then that program will only have limited user permissions. We can get around this by starting a service, running under System ownership, at boot time and then let users of any level run a GUI under their ownership which controls the service. Since the service runs under the System account it has global write permission. This allows the app to remove malware in locations to which the local user may not have write access.

A service will also startup sooner in the bootup process to give it a greater chance to remove malware.

About the service (from the FAQ):
What Is a Service?

Services are Windows applications that are launched at system startup and then run in the background, not visible to the user.
What is the Benefit of a Service-Based Approach to Malware Removal?

Malware that emerges today is increasingly complex, displaying wildly varying behavior and operating on many levels in the system. In order to stay a step ahead of these ever-changing security threats, an anti-spyware tool needs to be more powerful, multi-faceted and flexible than ever before.

The implementation of Ad-Aware 2007 as a Service facilitates this needed power and flexibility since a service runs with elevated rights on the system. This means that the user can work in user-mode while the Service maintains the elevated rights it needs in order to properly detect and remove malware infections.
How Does This Affect Resource Use?

During a scan, the CPU use of the Service will vary as parts of the scan are more labor-intensive and require a lot of processing power, which can make the computer's performance sluggish. Other parts require less computing power and have little impact on the overall performance of the system.

When the service is idle, virtually no CPU power is required, making the impact on system performance negligible.

As for memory use, the service does require a bit of memory, most of which is needed for storing the threats in the Detection Database. It is important to note, however, that when the Service is not in use, the lion's share of this memory is paged to the Swap file. In non-technical terms, this means that the hard drive is used to store data that is not currently in use, and then retrieves the data when needed, which makes the actual working memory (RAM) available for other applications.
.........................
Most if not all anti-malware companies today are using a service for these same reasons. Check your Antivirus Product or other favorite security program. You'll find it runs a service and yes, they also use more resources.

Remember that the Ad-Aware SE model was written back in 2001/2002 when the malware scene was much different from today. In order to deal with today's threats, we have designed Ad-Aware 2007 in order to be more effective in removing those threats.

There have been many changes in the Ad-Aware 2007 model to keep up with new and emerging malware and the SE model is not effective in that regard. We will not be bringing SE back nor continue to develop it for those reasons.

Please read here to find the many other changes in Ad-Aware 2007
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=15293

I've repeated this same logic too many times now. Ad-Aware SE is not making a comback and it will not be supported anymore. It's expired and the many good things it did from 2002 onward were great, but we have to improve to keep up with the times.

I don't mean to be mean, but you have to think about the fact that today, 2008, is already becoming a challenge to keep up with malware and their new tactics in store. We will be striving to improve and keep up with today's new threats. That is a promise.

So for now, this topic is closing. It's foolish to hang on to an obsolete version of Ad-Aware for the reasons already stated in this thread.