1. Open your Internet browser and navigate to /.
  2. Click on the link to Helpdesk on the left of the page.
  3. Click on Ad-Aware link on right side under Spyware removal tools.
  4. The Tucows.com page will open.
  5. Click on Download for your Windows version
  6. A File Download dialog will appear.
  7. Click on the Save button.
  8. The Save As window will open.

  9. Using the drop-down arrow to the right of the Save In field, choose the option Desktop.
  10. Click on the Save button.
  11. The Ad-aware file will download.
  12. When the download is complete, a Download Complete dialog will appear.
  13. Click on the Close button.
  14. You are now ready to install Ad-aware.

Once you have downloaded Ad-aware, you are ready to install it. Instructions for the installation are listed below.

  1. Close all open windows.
  2. Double-click on the downloaded Ad-aware file icon, located on your Desktop. (It will most likely be called aaw****.)
  3. The Ad-aware SE Personal dialog will appear.
  4. Click on the Next button.
  5. The Ad-aware SE Personal License Agreement dialog will appear.
  6. Click on the Next button.
  7. The Ad-aware SE Personal Destination Location dialog will appear.
  8. Accept the default settings and click on the Next button.
  9. The Ad-aware SE Personal Select Components dialog will appear.
  10. Accept the default settings and click on the Next button.
  11. The Ad-aware SE Personal Start Installation dialog will appear.
  12. Click on the Next button.
  13. The installation will begin.
  14. AnotherAd-aware SE Personal dialog will appear, stating that Ad-aware has been successfully installed.
  15. Click on the Finish button.
  16. You are now ready to use the Ad-aware Spyware filter.

Once you have downloaded and installed Ad-aware, you can start using its spyware filters. Instructions for doing so are listed below.

  1. Close all open windows.
  2. Click on the Start button in your computer's Taskbar.
  3. A menu will appear.
  4. Hold your cursor over the All Programs option.
  5. Another menu will appear.
  6. Hold your cursor over the Lavasoft Ad-aware SE option.
  7. A sub-menu will appear.
  8. Click on the Ad-aware SE option.
  9. The Ad-aware SE Personal window will open.

  10. Click on the Check for Updates Now link.
  11. A Performing Web Update dialog will appear.
  12. Click on the Connect button.
  13. If new reference files are available, an Ad-aware SE dialog will appear, informing you that the new files are ready for downloading and installing.
  14. Click on the OK button.
  15. When the web update is complete, click on the Finish button.
  16. You will return to the Ad-aware SE Personal window.
  17. Click on the Start button.
  18. The Preparing System Scan window will open.

  19. Choose the Perform Smart System-Scan option in the Select Scan Mode section.
  20. Click on the Next button.
  21. Ad-aware will begin its search for spyware on your computer. This process can last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes.
  22. When the process is complete, a Scan Complete window will appear.

  23. If new objects are indicated, click on the Next button.
  24. A window listing your scanning results will appear.
  25. Select all of the objects by clicking once on the check-box that appears to their left (a checkmark will appear).
  26. Click on the Next button.
  27. A dialog will appear, stating that all of the objects you selected will be removed.
  28. Click on the OK button.
  29. The spyware will be deleted and you will return to the Ad-aware SE Personal window.
  30. You may close the window.

Note: You should perform the web update before scanning your computer to make sure that you have up-to-date anti-spyware definitions.