Ad-aware offline updates

Here is a little tip if you require offline updates for Lavasofts 'Ad-aware' spyware busting program.

For those who don't know, spyware is the term used for little programs which work in the background without you knowing. They are supposed to track you around the web, and serve up pop-ups, or contact their own headquarters with information regarding your online-ness. Most people could not give a crap about the personal info piece. Most people I come into contact with are extremely annoyed when one of these little freeloaders, nearly breaks the computer it's running on. All these programs require processing time, and a lot require internet bandwidth. So far it's slowing your computer down as well as reducing your capacity to surf and download etc. The extra deluxe super sized annoyance comes from when the spyware takes over control of certain functions of your PC. You begin to never be able to get rid of strange programs, or something like your homepage is never actually your homepage again. If you know little about this, but are seeing changes in your computer which you KNOW are nothing to do with you (or the 8 year old computer scientist at home) making, then spyware is most certainly your new unwanted guest.

If you are wondering how it gets onto your computer, YOU put it there when you installed that plugin from a webpage or any number of programs. I too used to click next, next, next etc when installing programs. These days I tend to look at all the fine print to see if it says anything even remotely looking like another program being installed or mention of tracking software etc. Use your imagination on this one and if your spider senses tingle, then move on and get a different program. They are supposed to warn you, when you install the main program, a lot do, but there are always those that don't.

Do your self a favor, and download Ad-aware, run it and be amazed how fast your computer works from then on.

Anyway, back to the plot...

Simply put go here to get the latest .ref file (the file it uses to check your computer for spyware)
http://updates.ls-servers.com/reflist.zip

Then copy it into the location of the Ad-aware installation, which is by default,
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-aware 6
Run the program and you will see that your definitions are updated. This could be useful if you have a bunch of computers that for what ever reason you do not wish to attach to your network, but need checking for spyware. You may even not be able to attach them, but want to start the process. Put it this way, this is invaluable for me from day to day, dealing with questionably infected machines, that in no way would I ever attach to anyones network!

Lavasofts own details can be found in their How To Guides.



Spyware, you look all gooey