Adaware breaking network cards!

[Einnod]

If you have Ad-aware installed as a spyware removal program, do not run it for the next few days at least. It will break every network device you have installed in your system and there's no known fix yet. If you run it, it will take every network device and put it under Unkown Devices in Device Manager with yellow "!"s by em and you can't get em to work again unless you do a system restore. I think I've found a possible fix for it but I need to find another broke computer to test it on before I can actually be 100% sure it works.

[Eyepatch]

Did this happen to you?

Thanks for the information.

[Einnod]

This happenned to one of my customer's computers. My job is to fix em, but in this case, I guess I broke it when I removed his 450-some-odd instances of spyware. I got his computer back onto the network now but still having a couple difficulties with it. My computer will never get spyware, cause I'm too smurt for that

[zdlr]

So it happened on one single computer?

I've ran adaware on 30+ computers over the past week and had no issues whatsoever.

[Einnod]

It appears to be a problem with adaware detecting IBIS Toolbar. It'll detect the wrong registry keys and remove them. Several other people have had this problem, here's a link to lavasoft forums about it. http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=60484&st=0
I've posted my solution on it, other people have posted theirs, but their solutions aren't full solutions, they're more like work-arounds. Also, it's a problem with definitions of 3/8/05 or later, so if you're using definitions you downloaded onto a CD you may not experience it.

[Fistanthalas]

Bro, I have the full version of Adaware Pro installed on 50+ computers at my office all scheduled to run at boot-up and have had NO reported problems. Could be due to the fact that none of them had the IBIS toolbar pop up for removal (I believe its because our permissions settings in Active Directory prevent the common user from running any unsanctioned .exe or installation programs). However, just wanted to throw in my 2 and a half cents on Adaware. As a side note: Adaware Pro with AdWatch is by FAR the BEST spyware removal program I've ever used, so much so that I made it a mandatory install at our office =)

[zdlr]

I've got to admit, I'm a sucker for MS Anti-Spyware. Real time protection is one of the best things ever, but sadly, I've had 1 virus so far be able to manipulate it.

Whatever you do, hope to never come in to battle with a computer that has se.dll installed. It's ugly.

[Einnod]

I'm a huge fan of the microsoft anti spyware also, it's done a few good things for me. I'm not extremely familiar with the professional versions of adaware, I've never had to go above the personal free edition.

As another side note, what kind of antivirus are you guys running? I've always been a fan of the Symantec products, but their home version has become a little too bloated for my tastes. The McAfee products I never have liked. I've found a new antivirus program that I've been using in the office to attempt virus removal called Kaspersky. Seems to work better than any other antivirus program I've seen but I'm not familiar enough with it to completely turn away from Norton.

[zdlr]

At the moment for customers without virus scans I use NOD32. At home I use Norton Corporate, may be an uglier interface, but its alot more lightweight.