AdwCleaner updates and discussion thread

AdwCleaner is one of those tools for specialists. When you are asking for one-on-one help on one of the dedicated cleanup forums, you are often asked to run it; always follow the guidelines given on those dedicated forums when you are asked to do so!

When you want to use it on your own, you have to know what you're doing.

Site:
http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/tools/15-adwcleaner

Download:
http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner

 

Recently I have noticed a little bit strange thing about version number and MD5 checksum.

I had version 2.1.1.5 with MD5 checksum:
MD5 - EC4961D7E0F6ACEF4E8446E062048D88

At the moment the site is telling that the latest version is 2.2.0.0.
After having downloaded it, the version number is still 2.1.1.5.
But the MD5 checksum is now:
MD5 - 02C4F6C257542FCB7C58B7164D674471

I wonder whether there is a little error on the version number of the newer build.
Anybody else seeing this?

 

as far i can see they did not adjusted the fileversion, but adwcleaner itself tell me 2.2.0.0.

02c4f6c257542fcb7c58b7164d674471|adwcleaner.exe

confirmed
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Res_Fileversion=2.1.1.5
GLOBAL CONST $VERSION="2.200"

 

Thank you, Brummelchen

You are right. The program (and the log-file after having it run) itself is telling that it is version 2.2.0.0.



(Dutch version of XP-home SP3)

 

Hi,

I have a question about version 2.3.0.6.

I have that version for some time now.
Its MD5 checksum is 4C47469F47FD9F8437B62A86F6E0874F

However I see that the current version is also version 2.3.0.6 but its MD5 checksum is now F265E08A4A53E0FAFF655BF04C490F0C

I wonder whether it is me, or something on my system, or did something happen with that version?

Thanks in advance.

 

It would be nice if it had a real time protection or at least auto update feature....

 

Latest version is 3.0.0. Download it and check the version.

 

Hi Robin,

I have seen that mentioned.
But:
go to http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/tools/15-adwcleaner
click on "Click here to download AdwCleaner"
then you get site http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner
There you have two possible download sites. Both were giving me 2.3.0.6 with MD5 F265E08A4A53E0FAFF655BF04C490F0C

Is it me? What am I doing wrong?

Edit to add:
http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner
is telling "AdwCleaner Version:2.306"

 

I knew about v. 3.0.0., when it was reported in fileforum.betanews.com, http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/AdwCleaner/1359131497/.
You can also download it from Softpedia, http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml.

 

It would be better to use the official links, either BleepingComputer or that French link I gave. Those are the official links.
Maybe something happened with that version 3.0.0 you mentioned. At the moment I don't know.
Maybe Grinler (Lawrence) of BleepingComputer would be so kind to tell us more.

 

PS-1:
The link at BleepingComputer is:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

PS-2:
I've sent a PM to Grinler (Lawrence) of BleepingComputer.

 

The current version of AdwCleaner being offered by the author is 2.3.x. Xplode briefly released the 3.x version, but rolled it back to the 2.3.x line in order to fix some bugs and add some features based on feedback. I would strongly suggest that you continue to use the 2.3.x version as the 3.x version floating around is not being updated.

As for a different checskum being seen for the same version, my guess is that there was a program modification and Xplode forgot to upgrade the version #. I do it sometimes with Rkill by mistake as well. Current md5sum for the latest build is f265e08a4a53e0faff655bf04c490f0c.

When I know more I will be happy to share it here.

 

Hi Lawrence,

Thanks for clarifying it; much appreciated! Keep up the good work!

 

Heads up that Xplode just released 3.0.

Hash for this release is: 1f099277de9b059678d0ba8b9044c465

Has new interface and quarantine.

 

Thanks Lawrence.

I have a different MD5 checksum (downloaded from the French site):
MD5 - 583AF618F49B77824627A7B45CCF9FF9

Wow, indeed a whole new interface etc.

 

Yup, I am seeing the hash as 583af618f49b77824627a7b45ccf9ff9 at BC now too. He must have updated after I posted.

 

would be nice if they can have a resizable GUI so that its easier to work with on a netbook.

also, scanning of setup files to detect adware before you install the program. as i've pointed out on other threads it seems the major AV companies dont want to detect adware any more.

 

Did someone try to install the tool Hosts Anti-Pup/Adware?
It has a nice score of 13/46 on VT (Install_HOSTS_Anti-Adware.exe)

 

I have 2 questions about search results. I was working with an anti-malware service provider to identify a trojan that was identified by their product on my system, but they told me not to remove the entries that AdwCleaner found during the investigation. The trojan ended up being a false positive but I have questions about what AdwCleaner found.

1. When AdwCleaner finds a 'variant' of a file, e.g. ask toolbar, what does that mean? I use Foxit Reader and I specifically uncheck the ask.com toolbar on install, however AdwCleaner located 23 instances of the ask toolbar on my system all associated with Foxit Reader.

2.Adware Cleaner found 3 instances in my registry that were identified as suspicious. They were all identified as coming from Trustware.com (I installed BufferZone on my system for a couple of months to try it out for a relative). I uninstalled BufferZone but these registry items remained installed. These were the ones that the anti-malware program had identified as the trojan. They are still on my system.

 

Did you check where the instances were found? Maybe they were bundled with Foxit installer and were extracted to temporary folders as part of the installation process, so even when you uncheck the toolbar option on installation, they still remained there doing nothing.

 

Anyone know what "Quarantine" is about in this new version?

 

Hi Gerard,

No, I haven't tried to install that tool. I see from where you can install it.
Do you have the SHA256 checksum (or MD5) so others can have a look at those detections at VT?

BTW, I saw that the whole version 3.0.0.0 has now a score of 3/45 at VT.

 

I noticed a change about the place where its logs file(s) are now put. This is on my (Dutch) XP-home SP3.

It used to be C:\AdwCleaner[S1].txt
I see that version 3.0.0.0 now makes its own folder C:\AdwCleaner\ where logfiles are put (and in which the new folder Quarantine is put).
So, it is now C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[S1].txt

I really am kindly asking others to confirm that. Please!

In case others are seeing that too (that new place for the logfile(s)), then a slight change has to be made in the guidelines at those forums where you can get one-on-one help for malware removal help (if it hasn't already be changed). For example at BleepingComputer and at the DSLR Security Cleanup forum.

 

Confirmed.

 

Thank you Robin !