243:
229:, Sweden since 2002. Nicolas Stark and Ann-Christine Ă…kerlund established the company in Germany in 1999 with its flagship Adaware antivirus product. In 2011, Adware was acquired by the Solaria Fund, a private equity fund front for entrepreneurs Daniel Assouline and Michael Dadoun, who have been accused of selling software that is available for free, including Adaware antivirus prior to acquiring the company itself.
38:
538:
The company was acquired in
January 2011, as Lavasoft, by the Solaria Fund, a private equity fund, front for Daniel Assouline and Michael Dadoun, key people of UpClick and Interactive Brands. SC Magazine reported that Lavasoft had been acquired by the same entrepreneurs who have been accused of
546:, and the Lavasoft Web Companion changed your browser without the user's permission. Although the company shields itself behind the complete legality of bundled software and claims that their software is only used to fight malware, there are users who have branded their products as malware.
478:. On many websites, users would see a tiny pixelated square next to each web beacon, warning the user that the computer's IP address and other non-essential information was being tracked by this website. Over time, Ad-Aware added the ability to block those beacons, or ads.
98:
539:
selling software that is available for free to unwitting users under the guise of premium support, including the free version of
Lavasoft's security program prior to acquiring the company itself. Security consultant Dancho Danchev has documented this controversy.
462:. Adaware accomplishes this by striking deals with malware operators and site owners to distribute its software in exchange for money. Adaware Web Companion is known to collect user data and send it back to remote servers.
525:
as of
December 2014. According to OPSWAT, in January 2015, Ad-Aware had less than 1% of market share globally. Paid versions of the product are being competed from low-cost or free products, such as
542:
Additionally, Danchev has reported in 2013 that
Lavasoft was used to hide hard-to-uninstall programs into third-party software to trick the users in installing them, like in the
963:
605:
218:
The company offers products
Adaware Antivirus, Adaware Protect, Adaware Safe Browser, Adaware Privacy, Adaware AdBlock, Adaware PC Cleaner and Adaware Driver Manager.
521:
In July 2013, Adaware
Antivirus Free was listed as having been downloaded a total of 450 million times from the Lavasoft site, including over 387 million times from
1256:
48:
1246:
553:, that a new security feature in Ad-Aware Web Companion was implemented with Komodia SSL Digestor, one of Komodia's public SDKs, the company behind the
505:, an older version of Ad-Aware, the Anniversary Edition, could locate only 83.6% of malware in a comparative test carried out by the security firm
1266:
1172:
695:
1261:
645:
1251:
1276:
77:
1102:"Dancho Danchev's Blog - Mind Streams of Information Security Knowledge: Cybersquatting Security Vendors for Fraudulent Purposes"
613:
955:
527:
1026:
459:
458:
and tracking components. Adaware Web
Companion, a component of the Adaware antivirus, is frequently packaged alongside
1271:
882:
311:
790:
577:
1101:
550:
443:
513:
performed a lab test on version 8.3, where Ad-Aware scored 9.2 points, beating the previous top score of 9.1.
1004:
108:
721:
838:
430:
software program, Adaware
Antivirus, according to its developer, supposedly detects and removes malware,
908:
635:
860:
398:
192:
1074:
959:
816:
502:
373:
509:. However, it stated that no such tests have been run on the newest version. Neil J. Rubenking at
768:
378:
578:"50.1% Stakes in Upclick Inc. and Lulu Software, Inc. and Adaware: Private Company Information"
543:
489:
engine and this arrangement continued for a few years. Starting with Ad-Aware version 10, the
475:
402:
356:
344:
208:
1051:
455:
393:
351:
1200:[Dangerous Aware: More than a Dozen Applications spreading Superfish Certificate].
1125:"How to Remove Securesearch.lavasoft.com Redirect Virus from your computer?(Removal Guide)"
97:
817:"Ad-Aware 2008 7.1.0.8 - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com"
256:
Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
986:
930:
481:
In the 2008 Edition, Lavasoft bundled Ad-Aware Pro and Plus for the first time with an
427:
153:
1198:"Gefährliche Adware: Mehr als ein Dutzend Anwendungen verbreiten Superfish-Zertifikat"
1124:
1240:
59:
522:
366:
1173:"Zero Day Weekly: Superfish attacks, FBI GameoverZeus bounty, Komodia in Lavasoft"
746:
839:"Page 3 - Ad-Aware Pro Anniversary Edition Review: Computer Security Articles at"
1202:
490:
471:
451:
1146:
696:"Solaria Fund acquires software business from Lavasoft - Mannheimer Swartling"
470:
Adaware antivirus was originally developed, as Ad-Aware, in 1999 to highlight
279:
226:
554:
482:
886:
212:
159:
667:
640:
222:
129:
506:
447:
431:
386:
200:
196:
118:
17:
558:
439:
435:
382:
340:
510:
486:
236:
31:
1229:
1197:
413:
171:
861:"Ad-Aware v8.1, Powered by People Anti-Malware Protection"
55:
690:
688:
1027:"Antivirus Market Share Report January 2015 | OPSWAT"
408:
392:
372:
362:
350:
336:
310:
288:
278:
166:
152:
136:
125:
114:
104:
207:. It operates as a subsidiary of Avanquest, a
45:The examples and perspective in this article
8:
885:. Lavasoft. January 22, 2014. Archived from
273:
225:, Canada, having previously been located in
90:
950:
948:
698:. Mannheimerswartling.se. January 18, 2011
272:
96:
89:
606:"A major new Internet player in Montreal"
78:Learn how and when to remove this message
715:
713:
600:
598:
569:
1257:Software companies established in 1999
966:from the original on November 24, 2009
636:"adaware facebook page, about section"
317:12.4.930.11587 / June 27, 2018
769:"Ad-Aware Free Tech Specs - Lavasoft"
549:In February 2015, it was reported by
7:
1247:Computer security software companies
1147:"Lavasoft Information for VU#529496"
987:"Ad-Aware Pro Internet Security 8.3"
722:"Lavasoft owners ran dodgy websites"
648:from the original on March 16, 2018
493:antivirus engine was used instead.
1100:Danchev, Dancho (March 20, 2008).
1054:. Scmagazineus.com. August 5, 2011
956:"Editorial Review of Ad-Aware Pro"
49:include all significant viewpoints
25:
909:"Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ Review"
1075:"Money for nothing | Media"
1073:Danny Bradbury (March 3, 2006).
1052:"Daniel Assouline - SC Magazine"
612:. March 26, 2018. Archived from
241:
36:
911:. Yahoo! News. December 8, 2014
863:. Brighthub.com. July 19, 2010
221:Adaware's headquarters are in
203:detection software, including
1:
1267:1999 establishments in Quebec
931:"Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11"
883:"Ad-Aware Product Comparison"
528:Microsoft Security Essentials
460:potentially unwanted programs
1262:Software companies of Canada
841:. Brighthub.com. May 4, 2010
1252:Companies based in Montreal
294:; 25 years ago
1293:
27:Software company of Canada
1277:Windows security software
747:"Release notes - Adaware"
426:An anti-spyware and anti-
332:
306:
250:This section needs to be
95:
551:CERT Coordination Center
485:scanner, which used the
148:Lavasoft Privacy Toolbox
1104:. Ddanchev.blogspot.com
146:Ad-Aware Web Companion
144:Lavasoft File Shredder
109:Private limited company
791:"Ad-Aware User Manual"
195:company that produces
187:, previously known as
142:Lavasoft Digital Lock
557:security incident in
319:; 6 years ago
962:. October 13, 2009.
438:, computer viruses,
193:software development
1206:. February 24, 2015
985:Rubenking, Neil J.
889:on January 22, 2014
819:. Download.cnet.com
668:"The adaware story"
275:
92:
56:improve the article
1272:Antivirus software
379:Antivirus software
140:Adaware antivirus
1123:Danchev, Dancho.
815:Hopkins, John A.
720:Bradbury, Danny.
544:K-Lite Codec Pack
503:PC World Magazine
476:Internet Explorer
456:browser hijackers
424:
423:
357:Microsoft Windows
345:Visual Basic .NET
274:Adaware antivirus
271:
270:
233:Adaware antivirus
182:
181:
88:
87:
80:
60:discuss the issue
16:(Redirected from
1284:
1233:
1232:
1230:Official website
1216:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1194:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1168:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1157:
1143:
1137:
1136:
1134:
1132:
1120:
1114:
1113:
1111:
1109:
1097:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1070:
1064:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1023:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1001:
995:
994:
982:
976:
975:
973:
971:
952:
943:
942:
940:
938:
927:
921:
920:
918:
916:
905:
899:
898:
896:
894:
879:
873:
872:
870:
868:
857:
851:
850:
848:
846:
835:
829:
828:
826:
824:
812:
806:
805:
803:
801:
795:
787:
781:
780:
778:
776:
765:
759:
758:
756:
754:
743:
737:
736:
734:
732:
717:
708:
707:
705:
703:
692:
683:
682:
680:
678:
664:
658:
657:
655:
653:
632:
626:
625:
623:
621:
616:on June 12, 2018
602:
593:
592:
590:
588:
574:
420:
417:
415:
352:Operating system
327:
325:
320:
302:
300:
295:
276:
266:
263:
257:
245:
244:
237:
178:
175:
173:
130:Montreal, Quebec
100:
93:
83:
76:
72:
69:
63:
40:
39:
32:
21:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1282:
1281:
1237:
1236:
1228:
1227:
1224:
1219:
1209:
1207:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1181:
1179:
1170:
1169:
1165:
1155:
1153:
1151:www.kb.cert.org
1145:
1144:
1140:
1130:
1128:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1107:
1105:
1099:
1098:
1094:
1084:
1082:
1072:
1071:
1067:
1057:
1055:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1025:
1024:
1020:
1010:
1008:
1005:"Ad-Aware Free"
1003:
1002:
998:
984:
983:
979:
969:
967:
954:
953:
946:
936:
934:
929:
928:
924:
914:
912:
907:
906:
902:
892:
890:
881:
880:
876:
866:
864:
859:
858:
854:
844:
842:
837:
836:
832:
822:
820:
814:
813:
809:
799:
797:
793:
789:
788:
784:
774:
772:
767:
766:
762:
752:
750:
745:
744:
740:
730:
728:
719:
718:
711:
701:
699:
694:
693:
686:
676:
674:
666:
665:
661:
651:
649:
634:
633:
629:
619:
617:
604:
603:
596:
586:
584:
576:
575:
571:
567:
536:
519:
499:
468:
412:
328:
323:
321:
318:
298:
296:
293:
289:Initial release
267:
261:
258:
255:
246:
242:
235:
170:
147:
145:
143:
141:
84:
73:
67:
64:
53:
41:
37:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1290:
1288:
1280:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1249:
1239:
1238:
1235:
1234:
1223:
1222:External links
1220:
1218:
1217:
1203:Heise Security
1189:
1171:Blue, Violet.
1163:
1138:
1115:
1092:
1065:
1043:
1031:www.opswat.com
1018:
996:
977:
944:
922:
900:
874:
852:
830:
807:
796:. Lavasoft.com
782:
760:
738:
709:
684:
659:
627:
594:
568:
566:
563:
535:
532:
518:
515:
498:
495:
467:
464:
422:
421:
410:
406:
405:
396:
390:
389:
376:
370:
369:
364:
360:
359:
354:
348:
347:
338:
334:
333:
330:
329:
316:
314:
312:Stable release
308:
307:
304:
303:
290:
286:
285:
282:
269:
268:
249:
247:
240:
234:
231:
180:
179:
168:
164:
163:
156:
150:
149:
138:
134:
133:
127:
123:
122:
116:
112:
111:
106:
102:
101:
86:
85:
44:
42:
35:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1289:
1278:
1275:
1273:
1270:
1268:
1265:
1263:
1260:
1258:
1255:
1253:
1250:
1248:
1245:
1244:
1242:
1231:
1226:
1225:
1221:
1205:
1204:
1199:
1193:
1190:
1178:
1174:
1167:
1164:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1139:
1126:
1119:
1116:
1103:
1096:
1093:
1080:
1076:
1069:
1066:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1032:
1028:
1022:
1019:
1006:
1000:
997:
992:
988:
981:
978:
965:
961:
957:
951:
949:
945:
933:. PC Magazine
932:
926:
923:
910:
904:
901:
888:
884:
878:
875:
862:
856:
853:
840:
834:
831:
818:
811:
808:
792:
786:
783:
770:
764:
761:
749:. adaware.com
748:
742:
739:
727:
723:
716:
714:
710:
697:
691:
689:
685:
673:
669:
663:
660:
647:
643:
642:
637:
631:
628:
615:
611:
607:
601:
599:
595:
583:
582:bloomberg.com
579:
573:
570:
564:
562:
560:
556:
552:
547:
545:
540:
534:Controversies
533:
531:
529:
524:
516:
514:
512:
508:
504:
501:According to
496:
494:
492:
488:
484:
479:
477:
473:
465:
463:
461:
457:
454:, parasites,
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
429:
419:
411:
407:
404:
400:
397:
395:
391:
388:
384:
380:
377:
375:
371:
368:
365:
361:
358:
355:
353:
349:
346:
342:
339:
335:
331:
315:
313:
309:
305:
291:
287:
283:
281:
277:
265:
253:
248:
239:
238:
232:
230:
228:
224:
219:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
177:
169:
165:
161:
157:
155:
151:
139:
135:
131:
128:
124:
120:
117:
113:
110:
107:
103:
99:
94:
82:
79:
71:
61:
57:
51:
50:
43:
34:
33:
30:
19:
1208:. Retrieved
1201:
1192:
1180:. Retrieved
1176:
1166:
1154:. Retrieved
1150:
1141:
1129:. Retrieved
1118:
1106:. Retrieved
1095:
1083:. Retrieved
1079:The Guardian
1078:
1068:
1056:. Retrieved
1046:
1034:. Retrieved
1030:
1021:
1009:. Retrieved
999:
990:
980:
968:. Retrieved
935:. Retrieved
925:
913:. Retrieved
903:
891:. Retrieved
887:the original
877:
865:. Retrieved
855:
843:. Retrieved
833:
821:. Retrieved
810:
800:November 21,
798:. Retrieved
785:
773:. Retrieved
763:
751:. Retrieved
741:
731:November 13,
729:. Retrieved
725:
700:. Retrieved
675:. Retrieved
671:
662:
650:. Retrieved
639:
630:
618:. Retrieved
614:the original
609:
585:. Retrieved
581:
572:
548:
541:
537:
523:Download.com
520:
517:Market share
500:
480:
469:
425:
367:Multilingual
363:Available in
280:Developer(s)
259:
251:
220:
217:
204:
188:
184:
183:
126:Headquarters
105:Company type
74:
65:
46:
29:
991:PC Magazine
970:October 31,
937:January 16,
915:January 16,
893:January 22,
867:November 9,
845:November 9,
823:November 9,
775:November 9,
610:newswire.ca
497:Reliability
491:Bitdefender
472:web beacons
452:data miners
399:Proprietary
158:Avanquest (
1241:Categories
1036:January 3,
771:. Lavasoft
565:References
561:machines.
474:inside of
337:Written in
324:2018-06-27
262:March 2018
227:Gothenburg
1210:March 17,
1182:March 17,
1156:March 17,
1131:April 23,
1127:. Frances
753:April 10,
677:March 16,
652:March 16,
555:Superfish
483:antivirus
213:Claranova
160:Claranova
68:June 2012
1081:. London
1058:July 14,
1011:July 12,
964:Archived
960:PC World
646:Archived
641:Facebook
448:rootkits
446:, bots,
416:.adaware
403:Freeware
223:Montreal
209:division
189:Lavasoft
174:.adaware
137:Products
132:, Canada
47:may not
1108:May 25,
1085:May 25,
702:May 25,
672:Adaware
620:June 8,
587:June 8,
507:AV-TEST
466:History
444:Trojans
440:dialers
432:spyware
409:Website
394:License
387:Spyware
322: (
297: (
284:Adaware
252:updated
205:Adaware
201:malware
197:spyware
191:, is a
185:Adaware
167:Website
119:Germany
115:Founded
91:Adaware
54:Please
18:Adaware
726:iTnews
559:Lenovo
436:adware
383:Adware
154:Parent
121:(1999)
1177:ZDNet
1007:. n.d
794:(PDF)
511:PCMag
487:Avira
428:virus
1212:2018
1184:2018
1158:2018
1133:2013
1110:2012
1087:2012
1060:2012
1038:2017
1013:2013
972:2009
939:2015
917:2015
895:2014
869:2010
847:2010
825:2010
802:2014
777:2007
755:2021
733:2019
704:2012
679:2018
654:2018
622:2018
589:2018
434:and
418:.com
374:Type
299:1999
292:1999
199:and
176:.com
414:www
341:C++
211:of
172:www
58:or
1243::
1175:.
1149:.
1077:.
1029:.
989:.
958:.
947:^
724:.
712:^
687:^
670:.
644:.
638:.
608:.
597:^
580:.
530:.
450:,
442:,
401:,
385:,
381:,
343:,
215:.
1214:.
1186:.
1160:.
1135:.
1112:.
1089:.
1062:.
1040:.
1015:.
993:.
974:.
941:.
919:.
897:.
871:.
849:.
827:.
804:.
779:.
757:.
735:.
706:.
681:.
656:.
624:.
591:.
326:)
301:)
264:)
260:(
254:.
162:)
81:)
75:(
70:)
66:(
62:.
52:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.