We frequently and unwillingly end up with utilities we don't want or need when installing ad-supported programs, such as toolbars that do nothing else but clutter and slow down web browsers at startup.
For such unpleasant surprises, it is recommended to keep an adware cleaner around, one that is powerful enough to detect such components and remove only the selected ones, in case it identifies toolbars we actually make use of.
AdwCleaner is a free and lightweight application designed to identify and remove adware, browser toolbars, hijackers (they automatically change web browser homepages) and PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). It is not wrapped up in a setup kit, nor does it require the installation of other utilities beforehand, like .NET Framework.
NOTE: AdwCleaner was tested on 64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro.
Portability advantages
Apart from the fact that its executable file can be run from any location on the hard drive, this also means that AdwCleaner can be saved to a mass storage device and directly run on any infected or suspicious computer without worrying about other installations.
Plus, the tool does not modify Windows registry settings, as it typically happens with installers. Worth mentioning is that it creates a folder in the primary drive which contains the quarantine, backups and reports.
Clean and intuitive interface
The interface is quite simple, made from a single window split into multiple panes for displaying scan results when it comes to services, folders, files, shortcuts and registry entries, along with browser toolbars. The supported web browsers are Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
Scan for adware with one clickThe app's logo fills a large part of the window. There is a progress bar beneath it together with four buttons for scanning, cleaning, viewing reports, and removing AdwCleaner.The scanning and cleaning behavior
Scan results show all potentially unwanted items in each category, and all items are automatically selected for deletion by default. However, users may exclude any objects from removal (except for Firefox and Chrome). Before proceeding with the removal procedure, it is possible to consult the log file (it is automatically created with each scan and clean job) to find out valuable information, such as the full path for each file, folder, registry entry and browser object.
View scan results and prepare for cleaningAnother important feature worth mentioning is that AdwCleaner creates backups before each cleaning job, thus allowing users to replace the original files in case Windows starts experiencing issues after removing them, or if they have deleted any objects by mistake. This is possible by restoring them from the quarantine. It is manageable from the "Tools" menu and includes the original path and size for each file, giving users the possibility to make a selection and restore items, as well as to load scripts (TXT files). Restore deleted objects from the quarantineRight after triggering the cleaning operation, AdwCleaner pops up a message that advises users to save any ongoing work and close running applications, since it requires a system reboot to finalize adware removal. This action cannot be delayed once users get passed the secondary message that pops up on task completion (it displays info about how to avoid potentially unwanted programs in the future), as well as the third one announcing the Windows reboot. Get ready to restart Windwos and complete cleaningOnce the operating system is back up, AdwCleaner automatically opens the report file, revealing the full path for all deleted files as well as skipped ones. View scan and clean logsAfter triggering the "Uninstall" button in the main application window, AdwCleaner removes all its traces from the PC and empties the quarantine (along with reports, the entire folder in the primary drive, and the app's executable file), so users should execute this command only when they are sure they do not need to restore removed items.The Good
It managed to detect some PUPs that were missed by another tool (we ran it alongside IObit Uninstaller 3 to use its browser plugin detection feature).
The interface and options are extremely easy to use, even by those with no kind of experience in adware blocking utilities. Scanning and cleaning information may be examined in log files.
The program automatically creates backups before deleting the items, and lets users restore them via the quarantine manager.
Apart from the fact that it is portable, the tool removes all its traces from the computer with the click of a button. It is free to use.
The Bad
It does not come equipped with customization features for advanced usage. For example, it is not possible to select only particular areas to look into before triggering the scanning procedure. Moreover, the tool does not integrate buttons for selecting and deselecting all items in the scanner results.
The Truth
It may not implement rich configuration settings, but AdwCleaner does a good job when it comes to identifying and removing potentially unwanted components. It's worth having around on the computer or any removable storage device and used from time to time to keep the computer adware-free.