What the difference between Combofix & ADW Cleaner?

Introduction

Although this site is dedicated to Combofix, we have had many visitors contact us about ADW Cleaner. Most often, visitors inquire about the between the Combofix and ADW Cleaner. This post addresses the differences between these two anti-malware appliactions, and help you determine which one is best for you.

What is ADW Cleaner?

ADW Cleaner is very small, yet powerful, anti-malware application designed to remove all forms PUP (Potentially Unwanted Programs). This includes adware, spyware, browser hijackers, and other nasty applications that can crash or slow down your computer.

Key Differences between ADW Cleaner & Combofix

Windows 8.1/10 Compatibility

Compatibility is one of the biggest difference between ADW Cleaner and Combofix. ADW Cleaner, unlike Combofix, is compatible with Windows 8.1/10. ADW Cleaner compatibility with the most recent Windows OS is surpassing Combofix in popularity. At this point, it is very unlikely Combofix will ever be compatible with Win 8.1 and above. So, if you are latest Windows, it’s very good chance that ADW Cleaner will be your only option between the two apps.

User Friendliness

Unlike Combofix, ADW Cleaner is safer for beginning and intermediate users. The powerful, easy-to-use application can identify and remove nearly every kind of malware infection including unwanted toolbars, browser hi-jackers, adware, etc. Combofix, on the other hand, is also a powerful anti-malware application, but the software is more difficult to use which allows for greater chance of a catastrophic system wipe-out. In short, only advanced users should use Combofix.

Portability

ADW Cleaner, unlink Combofix doesn’t need to be installed and can be deployed from any storage device. Plus, it doesn’t leave any traces in the Windows registry. The makes ADW Cleaner a top choice for IT professionals.

No Frills

While both ADW Cleaner and Combofix are small, no-frill anti-malware applications, however, only ADW Cleaner immediately clean as soon as soon as its started and finds all traces of unwanted components or remnants of former installations that should be cleaned.

Self-removal Capabilities

ADW Cleaner ability to self-remove all traces of itself with a single mouse click is another feature popular with IT professionals. ADW Cleaner has a dedicated button, when active, will automatically remove all traces of the application from the drive it is stored on. Combofix requires a bit more effort to uninstall.

Conclusion

The main differences between Combofix is ADW Cleaner is compatibility and user friendliness. If you are an advanced user working on system with Window 8 or below, then Combofix is safe to use. Otherwise, we suggest going with ADW Cleaner due to its Windows 8.1/10 compatibility and ease of use.

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