Compare top anti-spyware software: main features.

Use only good quality anti-spyware software.

• In the anti-spyware business there is:
• a lot of unethical advertising.
• a lot of low-quality software promoted with very pushy advertising.

You often see a table of no-name antispyware tools 'reviewed' or ranked with ticks and stars. Then the advertiser declares which one is 'best' – although you and I have never heard of it before.

Buy only from trusted security companies.

The table below compares the main features of five of the most respected anti-spyware tools from reputable security specialists.

Table/Checklist: Comparing main features of five quality anti-spyware programs.

Brands:	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti- Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
Company:	Lavasoft: www.lavasoft.com	Grisoft: www.grisoft.com	PC Tools: www.pctools.com	Webroot: www.webroot.com	Tenebril: www.tenebril.com
Support for Multiple Languages	English now, others in development	YES 8 languages	YES 13 languages	English	English
Operation: Runs all the time, i.e. 'Pro-active' or 'real-time' protection and...	YES to all of these. As it should be. Any anti-spyware program you pay for should do all this. Free programs usually don't do all of this. (But we don't mind, because they are free.)
...monitors downloading and browsing activity.
Gets regular updates
Trial/Buy Options:	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti-Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
Free Scan Free/Online Scan Available?	NO BUT see below for a free trial.	NO Not Online BUT a free trial is available. See just below.	NO Not Online BUT a free trial is available. See just below.	NO Not Online BUT a free trial is available. See just below.	YES (Click here.) Link is in the left-hand menu. The online scan uses ActiveX, so you need to use Internet Explorer.
Free Trial Available?	YES A free version with fewer features is available to try. (Click here.)	YES Free, fully functional 30 day trial. (Click here.)	YES An unlimited-time trial for free. (Click here.) It blocks spyware but does not remove spyware you might already have. You can download Spyware Doctor from us right here. (It's quick.)	YES (Click here.) (That's a direct download link.)	YES A 15 day free trial. (Click here.) See the 'free trials' link in the left-hand menu when you get to the page.
Payment terms	Annual License	Annual License	Annual License	Annual License	Annual License
Operating Systems:	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti-Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
Windows 98	NO	NO	NO BUT you can still get an older version for Win98	NO	NO
Windows 98SE	NO	NO	NO BUT you can still get an older version for Win98SE	NO	NO
Windows ME	NO	NO	NO BUT you can still get an older version for ME	NO	NO
Windows 2000	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Windows XP	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Windows Vista	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Other	Windows Server 2003	Supports x64 versions too	-	-	-
Support & Help:	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti-Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
Online Support: What kind?	YES Free 24/7 support by email	YES Free 24/7 support by email	YES An online 'wizard' type, question and answer support center. You can also send a message if your question is still not answered.	YES Online knowledgebase, or submit a question. With options for increased support, phone queue priority, remote desktop help etc.	YES Online knowledgebase, email support.
Company Forum for Users	YES	YES and NO There is a forum for users of the free AVG products here. Also there is an AVG user forum here.	YES Here	NO But there are user forums on the web.	NO
Telephone Support	NO	NO	YES (USA toll-free.)	YES	YES (Small fee.)
Types of Malware it can protect you from:	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti-Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
Spyware	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Adware	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Trojan Horses / Spying Trojans	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Dialers	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Worms	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
KeyLoggers	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Hijackers	YES	YES	YES	YES	YES
Rootkits	YES	NO BUT AVG offer a separate anti-rootkit tool: AVG Anti-Rootkit: free from here	YES	YES	YES
Other Features:	Hosts File Editor. Supports IE, Fireox and Opera.	Viewers for processes, connections, browser plugins, startup entries etc.	Protects against rogue anti-spyware programs. Scans external drives like USB sticks. Helps protect against phishing.	Scans incoming and outgoing email attachments.	Helps protect against phishing.
Links: Click links for ordering, buying, price info and options.	Ad-Aware Plus	AVG Anti-Spyware	Spyware Doctor	Spy Sweeper	Tenebril SpyCatcher
More info: at company websites.	Lavasoft: www.lavasoft.com	Grisoft: www.grisoft.com	PC Tools: www.pctools.com	Webroot: www.webroot.com	Tenebril: www.tenebril.com

Table Update: October 2009

This table to compare antispyware software can get out-of-date quite quickly. Companies that supply quality anti-spyware software constantly improve their features – faster than I can keep up with.

The main point I stress here is that these are among the top ten antispyware brands. (Yes, I could list five more – I just haven't got around to making another one of these tables: it takes a long time to make one.)

But there are so many other brands vigorously advertising on the internet. The trouble is, a lot of them are not much good. Some are just low-quality. Some are rogue programs: that is, they're not security tools at all but just spyware disguised as anti-spyware.

 

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