ast week we reviewed powerful virus removal tools from developers McAfee and Kaspersky. This time we're shifting our attention to an application from Bitdefender, specially designed to find and eliminate adware from computers in a manner similar to that of the two mentioned virus removal tools.
The stable edition of Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool has just arrived on the market and in the Softpedia database, so users can easily download it and test it for themselves. It targets PUPs, (potentially unwanted programs), hijackers (like apps that changed the browser homepage), browser toolbar and add-ons.
This type of threats are commonly bundled in installers which should be labelled "ad-supported" and are set up on the computer along with or without user's permission. Some of their makers go to great lengths to trick users into unwillingly installing these third-party applications for the purpose of generating revenue.
Those familiar to Bitdefender are aware of its highly acclaimed antivirus lineup, so it wouldn't be a surprise for them to find out that the adware removal program is just as effective and easy to use. Actually, it's significantly simpler to handle because it doesn't contain more features than necessary: scan for adware, choose the apps to keep, and remove the unwanted files.
The software utility is not wrapped in an installer. It consists of a single executable file that permits users to launch Bitdefender from any location on the disk or mass storage device. Unlike most antivirus programs, it does not create extra files on the disk or modify Windows registry settings, thus leaving no traces behind after removing it.
The main advantage of portable tools is that they can be kept on a pen drive in the pocket, so Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool can be quickly run on any machine to verify and get rid of irritating adware files. It is only necessary to access the end user license agreement to be able to work with the app.
The interface is represented by a single window with an elegant and straightforward look. Bitdefender does its job with minimal user assistance. It scans all critical parts of the operating system to look for adware (such as the Windows directory and "Program Files"), revealing the total number of scanned items, found and removed adware objects, along with the full path for the currently scanned file.
CPU and RAM consumption is significantly used during this time, and the task may take a while, depending on the size of the hard drive. However, users may pause the scan job at any time to temporarily allocate system resources to other programs, and resume it at a later time.
If adware is detected, Bitdefender populates the main application window with the full path and agent name of each entry, enabling users to select the exact items they want to remove, while keeping the rest on the hard drive. It also facilitates a button for selecting and deselecting all files. System reboot may be necessary to complete the removing procedure.
This type of threats are commonly bundled in installers which should be labelled "ad-supported" and are set up on the computer along with or without user's permission. Some of their makers go to great lengths to trick users into unwillingly installing these third-party applications for the purpose of generating revenue.
Those familiar to Bitdefender are aware of its highly acclaimed antivirus lineup, so it wouldn't be a surprise for them to find out that the adware removal program is just as effective and easy to use. Actually, it's significantly simpler to handle because it doesn't contain more features than necessary: scan for adware, choose the apps to keep, and remove the unwanted files.
No installation required
The software utility is not wrapped in an installer. It consists of a single executable file that permits users to launch Bitdefender from any location on the disk or mass storage device. Unlike most antivirus programs, it does not create extra files on the disk or modify Windows registry settings, thus leaving no traces behind after removing it.
The main advantage of portable tools is that they can be kept on a pen drive in the pocket, so Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool can be quickly run on any machine to verify and get rid of irritating adware files. It is only necessary to access the end user license agreement to be able to work with the app.
How it works
The interface is represented by a single window with an elegant and straightforward look. Bitdefender does its job with minimal user assistance. It scans all critical parts of the operating system to look for adware (such as the Windows directory and "Program Files"), revealing the total number of scanned items, found and removed adware objects, along with the full path for the currently scanned file.
Choose the files to remove
CPU and RAM consumption is significantly used during this time, and the task may take a while, depending on the size of the hard drive. However, users may pause the scan job at any time to temporarily allocate system resources to other programs, and resume it at a later time.
If adware is detected, Bitdefender populates the main application window with the full path and agent name of each entry, enabling users to select the exact items they want to remove, while keeping the rest on the hard drive. It also facilitates a button for selecting and deselecting all files. System reboot may be necessary to complete the removing procedure.
The Good
Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool works on all popular Windows editions from XP to 8/8.1. It includes help documentation and it is extremely easy to use.
Scans are performed automatically in the important parts of the computer where adware usually hides. Users can examine the results list with all identified adware files and choose the ones they want to remove, while keeping the rest.
It is extremely easy to use, portable and free.
The Bad
Since this is such a simplistic application, Bitdefender does not make room for customization, such as picking the targets to look into in cases where users suspect specific drives or directories of including adware.
Although the app identified and removed a lot of adware during our evaluation, it did not detect everything we submitted to the test (no software tool is perfect).
The Truth
Taking everything into account, Bitdefender Adware Removal Tool shows that, with minimal features and power, it is able to rid adware-infected machines of unwanted and annoying objects. Nevertheless, users should be reminded that it does not substitute an anti-malware solution.
