Table of content

1. Introduction
2. Installation
3. Configuration
1. Activation of the real-time scanner Ad-Watch
2. Additional configuration settings.
3. Modifying the application language
4. System scan

1. Introduction

Norman Ad-Aware scans your system for adware and spyware (Malware) and removes them. Malware is a generic term that encompasses a range of computer software that is designed and used to either harvest specific information from user machines for the purpose of marketing, or to display advertising messages and banners either within existing Web pages, or in Pop up boxes. These types of applications are sometimes legitimate, however the methods by which they are installed to your machine are often questionable, and on occasion they will be installed without your knowledge.

Norman Ad-Aware’s real-time scanner (Ad-Watch) protects you against such malware before it has been installed and reports every serious registry manipulation.

Note that not every reported registry manipulation is due to Malware. Therefore if you install an application which should be started at system start up Ad-Watch will inform you about it and asks if you want to allow it or not - similar to a firewall assistant.

Norman Ad-Aware does not provide protection against viruses, forbidden access to your computer or abuse of windows security flaws and exploits, This is why you should use Norman Ad-Aware in conjunction with an antivirus application such as Norman Virus Control, and use a firewall like Norman Personal Firewall and run regular Windows updates on your operating system using the built-in automatic windows update function.

2. Installation

1. Double click the setup file of Norman Ad-Aware, which you have downloaded. It will be named: 
• Norman_Ad-Aware_plus_Rxxx.exe for the plus version with build number xxx 
• Norman_Ad-Aware_pro_Rxxx.exe for the professional version with build number xxx 
  
2. After confirming the license agreement the installation routine will look for previously installed versions of Ad-Aware on your system and will remove them upon your confirmation (recommended). 
   
3. Install Norman Ad-Aware into the proposed directory. 
   
4. If there are several users on your computer you can choose to install it for all users or just for yourself. 
   
5. After the installation you have new shortcuts in your start menu and on your desktop to start Norman Ad-Aware.

It is recommended that you download the latest signature files and run a full system scan when you have completed the Norman Ad-Aware installation. This will enable you to scan for infected objects and remove them. This procedure is explained later on in this guide.

3. Configuration

After the installation has completed there are some changes that you can make to the configuration of Norman Ad-Aware to suit your preferences, these are described in this section. 

3.1 Activation of the real-time scanner Ad-Watch

1. Open Norman Ad-Aware and click onto the Ad-Watch button. 
   
   
   
2.  If you already have opened this configuration section the Ad-Watch Tools & Preferences window will appear, alternatively click on the Tools button to open this window. Click on the Options button and activate Load Ad-Watch on Windows start up. Close the Norman Ad-Watch window. 
       
   
   
   Click on Active to temporarily activate or deactivate Ad-Watch. Click on Automatic to activate or deactivate the Ad-Watch assistant. *
   
   * Caution!: If Ad-Watch is configured to run automatically it will block all critical objects and modifications to the registry without informing the user.

3.2 Additional configuration settings

1. Click on the Norman Ad-Aware Configuration button to open the Norman Ad-Aware configuration window. 
   
   
   
2. Click on the Tweak button. 
   
   
   
3. You may wish to change the following settings: 
   
• Under Ad-Watch activate Load Ad-Watch minimised, if you don’t want Ad-Watch to display the Ad-Watch windows after a system start. 
  
• Under Ad-Watch deactivate Block pop-ups aggressively, if you won’t want Ad-Watch to block absolutely every popup. Some websites may be completely blocked when Ad-Watch’s popup blocker is in aggressive mode. 
  
• Under WebUpdate Settings activate Suppress Webupdate confirmation dialogs, if you want Ad-Aware to update definition file without user interaction.
  
  

3.3 Modifying the application language

1. Download the Norman Ad-Aware languagepack from Normans web site from this link.
   
2. Launch the downloaded file and follow the installation assistant. 
   
3. Open Norman Ad-Aware and click on the configuration button. 
   
   
   
4. In the left menu click on the Interface button to switch to the interface section. 
   
   
   
5. Click into the language file selection menu and choose the desired language. Confirm the selection by clicking onto Proceed.
   
   

4. System scan 

1. Open Norman Ad-Aware and click on the Start button. 
   
2. Choose the desired scan mode and click on Next.
   
   The following scan modes are available: 
   
• Smart System Scan
  Fast system check, which should be launched regularly. The memory, registry, cookies, favourites and the host file are be scanned. 
• Full System Scan
  Takes a little bit more time. The whole system will be scanned. This mode is recommended after installation or when an object cannot be removed. Additionally to the smart scan archives and fixed drives will be scanned. 
• Custom Scanning Options
  For advanced users, who want to be able to control what is scanned. 
• Scan Volume for ADS
  Scans for alternative data streams. This scan mode is used only in very special circumstances and can take a long time to complete. 
• Search for negligible risk entries
  Optional you can scan for negligible risk entries, such as MRU’s (most recently used list of programs and files etc) 
  
3. When the scan has completed click on Next and the list with the scan results will appear. 
   
4. Right-click one of these objects and then Select All will enable you to mark all objects at once if you wish, then click on Next to remove all infected objects.