When you start Ad-Aware, the software will warn you if the spyware/adware definition file is too old, which is older than 14 days. This way, you are quickly reminded to download updated definitions to keep up with newer malware threats that exist on the Internet.

If you do a lot of Internet surfing and are concerned about security, you may wish Ad-Aware to consider a definition file of 1 week or less as too old. To make this change and have Ad-Aware warn you more often:

1. Open Ad-Aware.

2. Click the button that looks like a gear ("Settings").

3. When the settings dialog opens, click the "General" button.

4. Next to "Consider definitions outdated after", enter the number of days in which you want definition files considered as too old.

5. Click "Proceed" to close the dialog box and save your settings.

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