I was having trouble with getting Internet Explorer 8 working with 64 bit Windows Vista. One of the troubleshooting steps finally required me to make sure that it was not LavaSoft Anniversary Edition, so I uninstalled it and did the Vista 64 bit test. It was not LavaSoft, so then it was time to reinstall. Rather than use my downloaded file from 6 months ago, I decided to use the latest download from LavaSoft. I have been a LavaSoft customer for 3 years now. I was shocked by the download. It was so full of crapware (software I did not want and did not ask for), it blew me away! At least 3 windows popped up. It was such an unwanted experience, that I backed up critical files and reimaged my main drive to recover.

I cannot believe this! Software that I have paid good money for, for years, is now filled with advertisements for other software. I mean, if I had been using this software for years for free, then the advertisements and attempted installs of crapware would not have bothered me so much, but because I paid hard earned dollars for Ad Aware, it shocked me. I guess many people have been using the free version for years, so LavaSoft feels justified in punishing them with crapware, but to do so, they punish their paying customers also.

I had to spend hours doing a Ghost recovery. So what lesson did I learn? I have no idea.

Well, you've learned to save installer files from old versions! It's incredible how many people still don't do this.

Did you download it from http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php ? Clicking "More Download Sites" shows all the mirror sites. (i.e. rather than Googling for Ad-Aware, which often leads to rogue imposter sites).

The reason I ask is that you're the first person to bring this up since the release of the new version, Ad-Aware Anti-Malware version 8.1. It was released Tuesday and usually there would have been tons of posts about this by now. Also, as far as I know, Lavasoft only promotes their own products, not 3rd party.

If you downloaded from a legit mirror like cnet, the installer file should be Ad-AwareInstallation.exe (73.52 mb)

He is correct, it comes with crap like Goggle Chrome etc.

I always choose Custom Install, not sure if you choose normal will Chrome sneak on.

I grabbed the new build as soon as it was mentioned (no posts here yet) and it was names .EXE (correct no file name lol), later on it was given a proper full file name from same official site.

BTW I am also a PRO user (not a happy one) and do not expect crap to even come with something I paid for, ok if its free and even then most vendors still give you a choice.

Oops, I forgot about Google Chrome

http://www.lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/company...s-your-security

The option was supposed to be clear - "Install Ad-Aware Only" or "Install Ad-Aware and Google Chrome"

I was wondering why the installer is now 74mb instead of 40mb.

It is clear . The user has to make a choice to either install it or not. There are no tick boxes with default values or anything like that. (Visitor, it looks exactly like CJ's screenshot).

@transuranicman, I think you probably didn't download the offcial Ad-Aware. As discussed here, the only thing you could say is that you have to make one extra decision in the installation - but Ad-Aware definitely does not install ANYTHING without your permission and the only thing you could install is the Google Chrome browser, so I'd hardly say its full of crapware.

@bliss007, I agree about the pro and plus - I don't think they should have it. However, Lavasoft has only one installer for all versions. Also, Lavasoft have tried to portray this as a benefit to users so I'm not sure they'd back down on that. However, having said that, the user DOES always have the choice - you have to click a install chrome or dont install chrome button and they are both as equally big and on the same page etc so nothing gets installed by default.

I cannot comment on the crapware in normal mode as I always choose custom mode to install so I have never seen normal mode (because I know vendors try to do this kind of thing).
So if they still give you a choice that's good but as a Pro user I rather not have it in the file talking up most of the file size period.