Web pop-up ads have replaced telemarketers and pushy girl-scout cookie agents as one of the main annoyances of daily life. For some reason, companies don’t seem to get the message that we’re really not interested in ‘The world’s best casino online,’ even after we’ve closed that window a thousand times. Unfortunately the pop-up problem has expanded from home computers to workstations used in small studios by independent animators and video artists.
Thankfully, the folks at Lavasoft have come up with a brilliant defensive against these little gremlins. Ad-aware (free for non-commercial use), Ad-aware Plus and the Ad-aware Professional (the one reviewed here) are three of the most effective anti-pop-up armors available today. To boot, they have a nice interface, easy to setup/control and frequent updates. Ad-aware Professional boasts the ability to lock down sensitive memory areas and offers real-time blocking of browser hi-jack attempts and forced installations.
The Wish List: We hate to report that nothing is perfect. Two out of 10 computers tested with this program were still getting pop-ups.
The Bottom Line: Just do it! It’s time you stood up against Trojans, Keyloggers and such. It may not make you completey invincible, but it will still save you a lot of time.
Web Address: www.lavasoftusa.com
Animation Magazine’s Seal of Excellence
Final Score: *****
Ease of Use:*****
Interface:*****
Tool Power:*****
Quality and Depth: *****
Ease of Use: *****
Interface: *****
