Which is the Best? SUPERAntiSpyware vs. Lavasoft Ad-Aware

Which is the Best? SUPERAntiSpyware vs. Lavasoft Ad-Aware
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Overview

The free edition of SUPERAntiSpyware and Ad-Aware complements our antivirus program because there is no single scanner that can detect all type threats. Ad-Aware includes real-time protection when downloading using Internet Explorer and also offers real-time monitor for malicious process. SUPERAntiSpyware will monitor any homepage hijacks and block any attempt. Find out below in which installer, scanner and features is better: Ad-Aware vs. SUPERAntiSpyware

Installation: Winner – SUPERAntiSpyware

Ad-Aware and SUPERAntiSpyware will run in Windows 7 and earlier edition of Windows. The file size of SUPERAntiSpyware’s installer is very much smaller than Ad-Aware Anti-Malware: 7.03MB vs. 73.5MB. There is no third-party add-on in the installer of SAS while Ad-Aware have bundled their anti-malware with Google Chrome which is optional during installation.

A reboot is required when installing Ad-Aware while SUPERAntiSpyware do not require such. It’s quite impressive to see anti-malware vendors to improve their program’s installer because I’m finding many of them requires no reboot to start protecting or scanning a computer (e.g. AntiVir, Avast!, A-squared, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, Microsoft Security Essentials and NOD32 to name a few).

Ad-Aware will use a lot of hard-disk space than SUPERAntiSpyware: SUPERAntiSpyware will only use 27.9MB of space while Ad-Aware application will take 107MB and 568KB for its Download Guard for IE browser.

There is existing issue with Ad-Aware’s installation of its Ad-Watch Live: The notification balloon keep prompting to restart the PC. The possible fix is to follow the advice in their forum but after doing all the suggestion, Ad-Watch Live will continue to not install turn on. The only work-around I have found is to uninstall existing anti-virus and firewall before re-installing Ad-Aware.

Features and Memory Usage: Winner – Both but with limitations

Both programs will install a tray icon for extra protection (Homepage protection and updating for SAS while updating and real-time protection for malicious process is offered by Ad-Aware). SUPERAntiSpyware only use 620KB of memory while Ad-Aware will use 1.9MB. Ad-Aware is also offering Download Guard for Internet Explorer (it works like SmartScreen Filter in IE8) that will scan in real-time if the file you are downloading contains is a threat or safe.

SUPERAntiSpyware include repair utilities, SafeBoot, repair SUPERAntiSpyware, Alternate Start (in case a malware is preventing SAS to load), and exclusion manager. Ad-Aware features its Ad-Watch Live and Download Guard as free real-time protection.

None of these programs is causing the system to use too much memory while you are busy with the computer. Both programs are offering a quick, custom, context menu and full system scan. Scheduler and command line scanning is not available in free edition of Ad-Aware and SUPERAntiSpyware. The toolbox in Ad-Aware is for paid editions only except the ThreatNetwork (to submit files to Lavasoft for analysis).

Images

Ad-Aware’s Memory Usage

Issue with Ad-Watch Live!

SUPERAntiSpyware Utilities

This post is part of the series: Which is the Best? SUPERAntiSpyware vs. Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware and SUPERAntiSpyware are available as free malware scanner and remover. We’ll find out which of these two programs will detect new threats and which have better performance and features.

  1. Which is the Best? SUPERAntiSpyware vs. Ad-Aware – Part 1
  2. Which is the Best? SUPERAntiSpyware vs. Ad-Aware – Part 2