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Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS
Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11 focuses on the job of rooting out malware and fending off future attacks, without frills. It does a good job, though it doesn't offer all the power of the paid edition. - Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5
4.0 Excellent

The Bottom Line

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5 cleaned up malware-infested test PCs with hardly a hitch, and turned in the best malware-blocking score among recent programs. It joins AVG as Editors' Choice for free antivirus.

Pros & Cons

    • Smooth, easy installation.
    • Good results in our malware cleanup test, great results in malware blocking test.
    • Correctly refrained from blocking valid programs as "suspicious." Free!
    • Antiphishing component ineffective against new phishing sites.
    • Toolbar Cleaner component makes it easy to wipe out important add-ons, with no ability to undo.

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5 Specs

Free: Yes
OS Compatibility: Windows 7
OS Compatibility: Windows 8
OS Compatibility: Windows Vista
OS Compatibility: Windows XP
Tech Support: Email
Tech Support: Forum
Tech Support: Live-Help & Toll-Free via Premium.
Tech Support: Self-Serve
Tech Support: Ticket
Type: Personal
All Specs

Some antivirus vendors make a point of releasing a new version every year, while others bide their time, updating to a new version only when necessary. In the two years since I last reviewed Lavasoft's Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11, the version number hasn't changed, but the product has seen some enhancements in detection technology and some minor changes in bonus features. As my testing shows, those enhancements pay off. 

As before, the main window contains controls related to every feature found in Lavasoft's paid antivirus and security suite. Previously these components displayed a simple on/off switch; trying to turn on the switch triggered an upgrade offer. In the current edition, those switches are replaced by a link titled Install, making it clearer that these aren't features of the free edition.

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Final Thoughts

Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11 focuses on the job of rooting out malware and fending off future attacks, without frills. It does a good job, though it doesn't offer all the power of the paid edition. - Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5

4.0 Excellent

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 10.5 cleaned up malware-infested test PCs with hardly a hitch, and turned in the best malware-blocking score among recent programs. It joins AVG as Editors' Choice for free antivirus.

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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