How to Configure Adaware6 for Full/Custom Scan

[shanmuga]

Scanning an infected system with Adaware, reconfigured to run in Full scan / Custom mode will get rid of many of the most common spyware/adware problems rather than running it in the default smart scan mode.

Download Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/) Install and launch it.

First, in the main window, look in the bottom right corner and click on Check for updates now and download the latest reference files.

Adaware comes pre-configured with default options that are already ON (green checkmark) ... do not change them. The following are changes that you will need to make to prepare the "Full" custom scan that is recommended for the first timers (instead of a red "x", you will make them a green "checkmark")

Click on the Gear icon at the top of the start screen which will open the settings screen.

Click the General button and select all available options except Run at Windows Start up

Click the Scanning button.
Under Drives & Folders, select Scan within Archives.
Click Click here to select Drives + folders and select all your installed hard drives.
Under Memory & Registry, select all available options.
Click the Advanced button.
Under Shell Integration, Select Move deleted files to recycle bin
Under Log-file detail, select all available options.
Click the Tweaks button.
Expand Scanning Engine, select the following:
Include additional Ad-aware settings in logfile and
Unload recognized processes during scanning
Expand Cleaning Engine, select the following:
Let Windows remove files in use after reboot.
Click on Proceed to save these Preferences. Click Start on the main screen. Please make sure that you select Use custom scanning options and activate In-depth scanning before clicking on the Next button.

Before you start scanning, Close all windows/programs except Adaware.

Wait till the scan completes and allow it to remove everything it finds and then REBOOT to allow it to finish.

NOTE: In the free Personal version of Ad-aware 6, you will notice that some options are greyed out ... these settings are only available for users of the purchased Plus and Professional versions of the program.

[Donn]

Expand Scanning Engine, select the following:

Include additional Ad-aware settings in logfile

this setting is under the "Log Files" heading not "Scanning engine."

[jabarnutcase]

Donn...keep in mind shanmuga's post was for Adaware6 and was posted about 5 weeks ago.
Now, with most of us using AdawareSE Build 1.04, several options have changed a bit since Adaware6.
The basic concepts are the same, but without going through everything right now, several buttons and options have changed. (For example, there is a separate button for "start-up" settings too, rather than it being under the "General" tab).

No biggie here, but certainly some basic differences between the two versions.
Then again, maybe that's what you were getting at. ;)

[Donn]

Donn...keep in mind shanmuga's post was for Adaware6 and was posted about 5 weeks ago.
Now, with most of us using AdawareSE Build 1.04, several options have changed a bit since Adaware6.
The basic concepts are the same, but without going through everything right now, several buttons and options have changed. (For example, there is a separate button for "start-up" settings too, rather than it being under the "General" tab).

No biggie here, but certainly some basic differences between the two versions.
Then again, maybe that's what you were getting at. ;)


Just an FYI for everyone, no harm intended, no one is going to keep Adw 6, so, like me, they might be unaware of the fact that those specs have been moved, and keep looking for it in the same place... :p :cool:

[shanmuga]

Yes, those instructions are specific to version 6.181. I will try and update it during this weekend.

[Paleo Pete]

OK, Here's the updated instructions, copied by request from a post by david eaton in another thread. I'll trust david to have his information straight. :D





Download the latest version of Ad-Aware (Ad-Aware SE Build 1.05) from here (http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/).
If you have a previous version of Ad-Aware installed, during the installation of the new version you will be prompted to uninstall or keep the older version - be sure to uninstall the previous version.
After installing Ad-aware, you will be prompted to update the program and run a full scan. De-select all boxes so that it does not run.
Manually run "Ad-Aware SE Personal" and from the main screen Click on "Check for Updates Now".
Once the definitions have been updated:
Reconfigure Ad-Aware for Full Scan as per the following instructions:
Launch the program, and click on the Gear at the top of the start screen.
Under General Settings the following boxes should all be checked off: (Checked will be indicated by a green circle with a check mark in it, Un-Checked is a red circle with an X in it. If it is greyed out, those features are only available in the retail version.)
"Automatically save logfile"
Automatically quarantine objects prior to removal"
Safe Mode (always request confirmation)
Prompt to update outdated confirmation) - Change to 7 days.

Click the "Scanning" button (On the left side).
Under Drives & Folders, select "Scan within Archives"
Click "Click here to select Drives + folders" and select your installed hard drives.
Under Memory & Registry, select all options.
Click the "Advanced" button (On the left hand side).
Under "Shell Integration", select "Move deleted files to Recycle Bin".
Under "Log-file detail", select all options.
Click on the "Defaults" button on the left.
Type in the full url of what you want as your default homepage and searchpage e.g. http://www.google.com.
Click the "Tweak" button (Again, on the left hand side).
Expand "Scanning Engine" by clicking on the "+" (Plus) symbol) and select the following:
"Unload recognized processes during scanning."
"Obtain command line of scanned processes"
"Scan registry for all users instead of current user only"

Under "Cleaning Engine", select the following:
"Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion."
"During removal, unload explorer and IE if necessary"
"Let Windows remove files in use at next reboot."
"Delete quarrantined objects after restoring"

Click on "Safety Settings" and select "Write-protect system files after repair (Hosts file, etc)"
Click on "Proceed" to save these Preferences.
Click on the "Scan Now" button on the left.
Under "Select Scan Mode, be sure to select "Use Custom Scanning Options".

Close all programs except ad-aware.
Click on "Next" in the bottom right corner to start the scan.
Run the Ad-Aware scan and allow it to remove everything it finds and then REBOOT - Even if not prompted to.
After you log back in, Ad-Aware may run to finalize the scan and remove any locked files that it may of found. Allow it to finish.
Plug-Ins for Ad-Aware (VX2 Cleaner)
Download the free VX2 Cleaner here (http://download.lavasoft.de.edgesuite.net/public/plvx2cleaner.exe)
Close Ad-Aware SE build 1.05 and Ad-Watch (if running)
Install the VX2 Cleaner
Start Ad-Aware SE build 1.05
Go to “Plug-ins”
Select the VX2 Cleaner plug-in and click “Run Plugin”
If your computer isn’t infected, click “Close”.
If your computer is infected:
Select “Clean System”
Reboot your computer
Scan your computer with Ad-Aware
Remove any VX2 objects detected
Reboot your computer again
Run a second scan to make sure the files have been removed from your computer

Virus warnings while performing a scan with Ad-Aware
While performing a scan with Ad-Aware, a background antivirus monitor may issue an alert, stating that a virus has been found in the temporary directory (%temp%) for the current user. This does not necessarily mean your computer has been infected with an active virus. Most antivirus resident scanners will not scan compressed files and only monitor your memory for the sign of an active viral process.

During a scan, Ad-Aware will temporarily decompress files to scan their contents without activating the content, but in doing so, the file is noticed by the antivirus' resident scanner.

Also, some antivirus applications include an option to quarantine infected files, and when Ad-Aware decompresses these quarantined files, the antivirus background scanner detects the virus moving outside the quarantine area. To avoid this you can either remove the quarantined files via your antivirus application, or have Ad-Aware ignore the antivirus program's quarantine folders/files during a scan.




That was originally posted by someone else, I'm not responsible for your results, your mileage may vary...Pete

[Gordman]

Great info, i am a new by and i am impressed already.