Anti-Spyware Software Review

Antispyware Software: What to Look For

When you are browsing the internet, you are potentially exposing you and your computer to an ever-present multitude of security risks found online. One such risk is spyware, a type of malware that is installed without your knowledge and can be difficult to detect. These rogue programs can wreak havoc on your Windows system, interfering with normal use and secretly capturing sensitive information, such as saved passwords and keystrokes.

As spyware and other malware continue to evolve, so should your efforts to combat them. Antispyware software is an effective tool that can help protect your computer against not only spyware, but a range of other malicious software as well. A vast array of antispyware applications exist, but not all are created equal, and some prove more effective than others. Some of the best spyware removers proven to work include BitDefender Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Panda Antivirus Pro. For more information, see our articles on antispyware software.

Anti Spyware Software: What to Look For?

There’s more to antispyware software than simply blocking malware; these applications must effectively scan for, detect and remove harmful spyware programs. Additionally, they should be light running, allowing you to use the computer and run other applications without significant slowdown. The following is an in-depth look at the criteria we used to determine the best antispyware software on the market.

Protection Effectiveness
Antispyware software is only as good as its detection capabilities, for it can only remove the spyware it has detected. We looked for applications that can effectively detect and protect against a wide range of spyware, keyloggers, rootkits and any other potentially harmful malware.

Removal Effectiveness
A far more challenging task than detecting spyware is actually removing it. Based on independent efficacy test scores, this criterion assesses how well an antispyware application can successfully eradicate any malware it finds.

Usability
Usability refers to the specifications of the software and how it impacts your computer once installed. For instance, we assessed how much disk space each antispyware tool requires to install and how much memory (RAM) it uses while both idling and actively scanning.

Help & Support
We assessed the type of support and documentation that supplements each piece of antispyware software. Each application should include a built-in help section that you can access from the interface, as well as online documentation. We also looked for the option of direct technical support via email, telephone or chat.

The best anti-spyware software may be light running, but equipped with effective detection and removal tools, these applications can protect your PC from harmful spyware and malicious attacks. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

 
 
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Software » Security & Privacy » Anti-Spyware Software Review
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Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
   Excellent
   Very Good
   Good
   Fair
   Poor
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Kaspersky Anti-Virus Panda Antivirus Pro F-Secure Anti-Virus AVG Anti-Virus G Data AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + ESET NOD32 Antivirus McAfee AntiVirus Plus
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Kaspersky Anti-Virus Panda Antivirus Pro F-Secure Anti-Virus AVG Anti-Virus G Data AntiVirus Norton AntiVirus Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + ESET NOD32 Antivirus McAfee AntiVirus Plus
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Lowest Price
Visit Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012
$29.95
Visit Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012
$59.95
Visit Panda Antivirus Pro 2012
$49.99
Visit F-Secure Anti-Virus 2012
$39.99
Visit AVG Anti-Virus 2012
$34.99
Visit G Data AntiVirus 2012
$29.95
Visit Norton AntiVirus 2012
$39.99
Visit Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + 2012
$27.95
Visit ESET NOD32 Antivirus 5
$39.99
Visit McAfee AntiVirus Plus
$49.99
Overall Rating
Ratings
Protection Effectiveness
Removal Effectiveness
Usability
Features
Help & Support
 
Windows 7 Performance
Protection Score 100% 100% 83% 92% 83% 100% 92% 92% 58% 75%
Removal Score 83% 100% 67% 83% 75% 83% 67% 50% 42% 50%
Windows XP Performance
Protection Score 100% 100% 92% 92% 83% 100% 100% 75% 58% 83%
Removal Score 100% 92% 75% 75% 75% 58% 75% 67% 33% 50%
Specifications
Installation Size (MB) 800 480 265 600 950 600 300 400 50 500
Memory Usage - Idle (MB) 1.41 2.61 1.89 3.45 2.31 4.57 6.14 1.2 9.18 1.72
Memory Usage - Scanning (MB) 1.8 42.07 34.95 43.56 39.2 39.56 21.35 31.89 58.71 14.03
Memory Usage Percentage <1% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 1.5% 3% <1%
Scan Time (MB/sec) 2.44 10.86 13.42 7.8 8.14 6.45 8.02 7.65 15.67 2.5
Suggested RAM Requirement (MB) 1024 2048 512 512 512 1024 300 1024 44 1024
Features
Spyware
Adware
Browser Hijacks
 
Drive-by Download
Keyloggers
Malware
Registry Entries
 
Rootkits
Trojans
Anti-Phishing
 
Auto Updates
Email Scanning
Reports/Logs
 
Gaming Mode
 
 
 
 
Scans Removable Media
 
 
Schedule Scans
Help & Support
Telephone
 
 
 
Email
Live Chat
 
 
 
Online Documentation
User Guide/Manual
Supported Configurations
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP