After its release on May 21st 2008, I had to give this software a test drive. Just like its counterpart Ad-Aware 2007, there are three versions available:

Free (which still offers on-demand scanning)

Plus ($27/year; adds real-time scanning and more built-in features)

Pro ($40/year; adds network-protection features and some power-user options)

I’ve been using the 2008 Free version for the last 3 days, and at a glance I am not seeing the added value from the older version 2007. I did experience a few minor issues during the initial set-up. The 2008 version could be just a tad friendlier during initial set up.

Ad-Aware 2008 looks and feels a lot like the 2007 version, but it’s more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. There are a few more controls in areas within the GUI. Most of the changes are found deeper in the software, and they are significant.

All versions, including Free, have a 64-bit option that is available if you’re one of the few people running a 64-bit OS. Lavasoft made great gains in security, particularly with the detection and removal of rootkits. If you’re using Plus or Pro, Ad-Aware now includes an antivirus tool in addition to its spyware killer. The company says over a million additional malware threats can be detected by the software in real-time, and all with a reduction in memory usage while it’s running.

I can’t say that it blows away the 2007 version, but I am running cleaner than a bar of soap so far. I have not tested the Pro version that offers real time protection, but I will take the companies word that it kicks ass. The only issue I noticed was when I performed a full system scan. It really utilized a lot of system resources, thus bogging down my computer.

What spyware removal tool do you use? If you’re using Ad-Aware 2007 Free, I recommend downloading the 2008 Free version.