Adaware has received top scores from multiple independent testing labs, and the program's high score appears to have been verified. I installed a folder containing a lot of known viruses, malware, and adware samples and the program identified them successfully with a quick scan and a full scan.

It is clear that this is a very comprehensive program. In addition to the three scan modes, users can fine-tune the scan speed to manage the impact on system capacity. I did some pretty intensive processing during the evaluation, so I set the power to low and even while running the virtual machine, the impact on machine capacity when running a full scan is negligible. . The program also has the ability to configure file and folder exclusions. What I like about this feature is the setting that applies to all scan modes, including full scan.

In addition to virus scanning, real-time protection uses behavior tracking to block unknown, suspicious malicious code. Although web protection and real-time protection require a few extra components to be installed (and rebooting each time), I still highly recommend it. I opened a bunch of phishing links in my browser and the program flagged each of them. This feature does not require any additional browser extensions to be installed.

The features of Adaware Total Security will not let you down. The list might be long but these are the standout features.

Network Protection: Network Protection adds a double twist to the way an antivirus program typically handles inbound port and firewall protection. Total Security shows you a list of network adapters from your system hardware and allows you to assign profiles to each. Users can also set up rules for the application which govern how the program interacts with the internet. There's also a handy button to control port scanning, which is always on by default. Hackers often infiltrate open system ports looking for vulnerabilities so I'm glad this protection turns on automatically.

Parental Controls: Adaware Total Security also includes parental controls. The system provides a very handy age-based preset so you don't have to manually configure folders for each user. Some of the default choices interest me a lot (the retirement family option automatically blocks youth ages 18-2!) So it's worth tweaking to make sure the setup works for those share with you or create your own configuration templates. I don't see the ability to lock access by time, date or time which would be a useful addition.

Email Protection: Adaware includes an email protection tool that integrates with popular desktop email clients. One feature that stands out to me is the ability to create and manage safe senders lists. This allows users to block email scanning from trusted senders, thereby avoiding unnecessary scanning.

After purchasing the product, the download process is quite simple. However, loading initial definitions (about 200MB) is quite slow and Adaware's servers are not the fastest. I also had to reboot twice to install the realtime and web protection components. These components are essential and I want them to be installed in the first place.

In addition, the user interface is very well designed and easy to navigate. Features are grouped by area, can be opened by pressing the button to open the slider, and most settings are simple, just slide the on/off button.

Adaware offers a wide selection of support, both online and in-program. There is a downloadable PDF manual for the software, a Q&A section, a community forum, and a ticketing system, but no live chat or phone support. However, the “contact support” form is product-only and has the option to submit a scan log. My support card was responded to within three hours, which is not the fastest time but still acceptable.