Chapter 3: SPYWARE REMOVAL

In these days of ever developing spyware menace it is always helpful to be kept well informed regarding removal of these applications from you PC. Here we have enlisted five software that are regarded to be highly effective against spyware by various IT journals and magazines.

Topping the list is Aluria Associates latest product Spyware Eliminator 4.0 which is astoundingly fast, scanning is completed in just 7 minutes. Priced at $29.99 it is supposed to possess a high amount of functionality when it comes to removing spyware. In this version the previously present Mac interface is also absent. They update their product regularly keeping them ahead of their competitor. It is also very efficient in removal of keyloggers. It also enjoys a wonderful user interface. Even their after sales customer support system is flawless enough by offering their customer free hotline facilities. Spyware Eliminator 4.0 is also credited with the successful removal of the immovable spyware CoolWebSearch, which other software failed. It also deactivates around 86% of the existing spyware, no matter how latest their versions are and cleans them 60% completely out of your system.

But along with this positive and bright side there is a flaw that is considered as the only blemish of the product. It is unable to recover enough disk space where its competitors are ahead of this product. And another thing is there- they tend to detect the same spyware file twice if there is an additional name for the program.

Next on our list is the PCTools’ Spyware Doctor 3.0. Priced at $29.95 it is the most recent offering from its company as an effective anti-spyware tool with a more developed shielding system. It also provides a large sphere of related applications that will help you fight the spyware problem. The Spyware Doctor is efficient enough while detecting and removing spyware from your system. It has been tested and proved to be 77% effective. Another noted facility provided is its user-friendly nature while installing, the previous version did suffer from this problem. The new version is more admirable than its predecessor version 2.1 as it offers multiple scanning options in the form of custom, full and quick. In fact the full scanning version takes around just four minutes to complete its job. But this version too is not entirely without blemish. It is prone to leaving search gaps while searching for spyware.

Now, it’s the time for the Spy Sweeper from Webroot Software Company to be discussed. It has been enjoying the podium of a leader for quite a while- though the latest survey shows it to be marooned at number 3.

Spy Sweeper of the Webroot SoftwareCompany is a very effectual instrument to identify, eliminate, and jam the menacing spyware applications. It has proved to be the most effective so far. Its deyection procedure is about 85% accurate while the ability to deactivating and removing has been as high as 69%. To sum it up Spy Sweeper is able to prevent browser hijackings, distinguish and identify memory bound spyware applications, cross-examine and scrutinize the users startup settings, confiscate and eliminate cookies, and most of all this application is able to eradicate changes made by the spyware applications in your system on the registry field by the intruding spyware applications.

After Spy Sweeper comes the product Counterspy on our list of most effective anti-spyware applications. It is manufactured by Sunbelt Software Company and is priced at $19.95. Counterspy sustains a striking resemblance with Microsoft's AntiSpyware application but the good thing about it is that it works much better than Microsoft's AntiSpyware version. Counterspy possesses the capacity to inoculate the user’s computer system against search bars that are basically not wanted by the user. It would provide a good protection against pop-ups and eliminate the chances of browser hijacking. It is able to perform all these utilities without slowing down your system.

Lastly, on our list of top 5 anti-spyware applications, we have got Microsoft AntiSpyware. Though the latest tests has results that are not very convincing it features in our list because it is associated with a major and enormous IT company like Microsoft and so there is always room to fast improvement. Saying this, it cannot be overlooked that this applications interface design is wonderful though not very user friendly. This application takes about ten minutes to complete its machine scanning while it creates a sound back-up system to shield your system against spyware. This product costs about $80 per year.