Ad-Aware Pro Security

Finding a properly good antivirus program is always a challenge, especially when it comes to balancing price and quality. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware products suite can satisfy all your needs, regardless if you just need some protection when surfing the web or if you need professional-grade security for work-related data. Focusing on Ad-Aware Pro Security, it must be said that this particular edition can help you maximize your system's security. It includes a two-way firewall and it offers real-time email protection, as well as other advanced features.

As previously suggested, there are several Ad-Aware products to choose from, including a free one. You can download and install any version you want and upgrade it at any time without any effort. Ad-Aware Pro Security does not support other antivirus programs, but it can be installed in compatibility mode, to avoid any conflicts.

The software provides a modern user interface, with a simple layout and intuitive controls. The available security tools are neatly organized on several pages, which can be accessed via navigation tabs, located on the left side of the interface. A summary of the active protection measures is displayed on a home panel, on which you can also find on/off switches for individual security modules.

Besides the scanning and real-time protection features, which are available in all versions, Ad-Aware Pro Security comes with network, web and email protection capabilities, as well as the previously mentioned two-way firewall, which grants your personal data a powerful security against hacker attacks. Most of these security modules can be tweaked in their own sections of the interface, via on/off toggles. You can increase or decrease the severity of certain measures and activate or deactivate specific functions, like blocking port scanning or enabling an unforgiving anti-spam detection and elimination feature.

Another advantage is the fact that Ad-Aware Pro Security is unobtrusive, especially if you compare it to other similar programs. While its protection features are active, the program will identify and eliminate the latest threats on your computer, without asking for any user input. Instead of being startled by loud sounds and flashing notifications, you will occasionally see a discrete notification message in the lower right corner of the screen.