Well-known anti-spyware pioneer Lavasoft today announced the global release of a major update to its flagship security product Ad-Aware, including new detection technologies to further strengthen the defense against newly emerging and constantly morphing cyber threats. 

The rapidly evolving complexity of malware makes traditional reactive detection methods increasingly obsolete. New forms of malware use highly complex techniques designed to hide from even the most sophisticated analysis systems.

“Every day, there is a flood of new malware emerging across the globe. In order to stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals, detection methods must evolve at a faster pace, consequently a bigger focus must be placed on proactive detection methods,” says Johnny Widerlund, CTO at Lavasoft.

Lavasoft first added proactive detection to Ad-Aware with Genocode, in version 8.1. Genocode is a heuristics-based detection technology that uses family signatures, employing a system for cross-referencing properties in current threat samples. These properties are tracked across a set of collections, and are then cross-referenced in order to uncover and rate relationships.

In Ad-Aware 9, Lavasoft introduces a new proactive detection method, called Dedicated Detection, designed specifically to detect polymorphic and obfuscated files. The technology analyzes the code, and creates a loose pattern that detects families of related malware. The resulting signatures are extremely powerful, with a single Dedicated Detection signature being able to detect hundreds of thousands of files.

In parallel to Dedicated Detection, Lavasoft introduces MagmaShield - a technology that searches for suspicious operations at certain points in a program. This technology does not rely on patterns or signatures to detect, which makes it entirely proactive.

“Millions of computer users worldwide put their trust in Ad-Aware to protect their PC’s from virus, spyware, and rootkits. This new version, which includes the advanced new technology, easy-to-use functionality and optimum efficiency that people expect from our software, provides a true first line of defense against the against complex and up-to-the-second forms of malware of today – and tomorrow,” Widerlund says.

For more information on Lavasoft’s new detection technologies, please visit www.lavasoft.com

Price and Availability

 The Pro and Free versions of Ad-Aware are available immediately at www.lavasoft.com. Ad-Aware Free is available free of charge for personal, home use.  Ad-Aware Pro is available with 1, 3, or 5 user licenses, and includes free technical support and continuous priority updates throughout the license period. The price begins at $29.95, with aggressive discounts for multi-user or multi-year licenses. All existing Lavasoft customers with a valid Ad-Aware license will be eligible to update completely free of charge.

Ad-Aware is available to users in English, Portuguese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.