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Anti-Spyware: Ratings of Sources
Total of 12 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. PCMag.com
As of Mar. 2009
Antispyware
by Neil J. Rubenking
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

PC Magazine regularly reviews anti-spyware programs. Neil J. Rubenking's articles are the most comprehensive we found. One limitation is that he uses virtual machines, and therefore would not encounter… conflicts with antivirus or firewall programs. The range of ratings is impressively broad, and Rubenking is decisive about his recommendations. Testing is explained in detail and a comparison chart is provided. PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 6 and Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware 6.0 earn Editors' Choice recognition.

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2. PC Advisor
As of Mar. 2009
Anti-spyware
by Editors of PC Advisor
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

PC Advisor is a U.K.-based magazine that reports on standalone anti-spyware products and security suites in single-product reviews. Hands-on evaluation is combined with independent testing in balanced… reviews that aren't shy about being critical when called for. Ratings are provided, and those show enough variation to make it easy to see winners and losers at a glance. The very best products, including Lavasoft Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition and Norton Internet Security 2009, get a Recommended tag.

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3. WebUser
As of Mar. 2009
Product Reviews: Anti-Spyware
by Neil Mohr[D1]
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment WebUser, which is based in the U.K., rounds up the latest version of several anti-spyware programs for a group test. Individual descriptions are disappointingly short and while testing is done, it is not well documented. However, a top product -- PC Tools Spyware Doctor 6 -- is named. Links to older anti-spyware software reviews remain on the site.
4. PC Pro
As of Mar. 2009
Anti-spyware
by Editors of PC Pro
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Britain's PC Pro occasionally reviews anti-spyware software in detailed single-product reviews that rival the best available. Reviews are highly critical and no current anti-spyware software earns great praise. For example, PC Tools Spyware Doctor with Antivirus 6 garners just four out of six stars and is criticized for a high price for protection that's "not quite water-tight."
5. TopTenReviews.com
As of Mar. 2009
2009 Anti-Spyware Software Product Comparisons
by Editors of TopTenReviews.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

TopTenReviews.com covers all of the major products in the newest versions. Writeups are short, but the detailed comparison chart is useful. There's insufficient transparency to make this a top site, but… there does seem to be some testing behind the ratings. Webroot's Spy Sweeper 6.0 earns a Gold Award and is top-rated. Despite the 2009 headings, some reviews are clearly older and cover previous versions.

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6. Amazon.com
As of Mar. 2009
Anti-Spyware
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

While computer users might have less experience with many different anti-spyware packages, they often can highlight issues professional reviewers using clean computers might miss, such as conflicts with… other applications and computer slowdowns. Among the many anti-spyware packages listed here, PC Tools Spyware Doctor Version 6.0 seems to stand for a very respectable four-out-of-five-star rating following a substantial amount of reviews (over 40 as of our last visit). No other standalone anti-spyware program does as well or gets more reviews. Norton Internet Security 2009 is tops among Internet security suites with anti-spyware.

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7. Download.com
As of Mar. 2009
Spyware Removers
by Editors of Download.com and Contributors
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Editors at this popular CNet.com download site review and rate spyware in short reviews. Testing is not documented, but positives and negatives are spelled out. However, some reviews reference earlier… versions, and others address limitations in the trial versions without evaluating how the full versions actually perform. User reviews are often more helpful than, and sometimes at odds with, the editors' ratings. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.34 is one of the few programs to score equally well with editors and contributors.

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8. Softonic
As of Mar. 2009
Anti-spyware
by Editors and Contributors to Softonic
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Based in Spain, Softonic is a popular download site in Europe and elsewhere. The site hosts lots of free anti-spyware programs as well as evaluation versions of commercial programs. Software gets both an… editor's rating and a user rating. Some anti-spyware programs receive reasonably well done and balanced reviews that include a bottom line assessment as well as lists of pros and cons. Free software, such as Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition and Spybot Search & Destroy, are top choices here according to both editors and users. Some of the listed programs aren't the latest version.

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9. CNET
Mar. 8, 2008
CNet Top 10 Antispyware Apps
by Robert Vamosi
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

CNet.com tests standalone anti-spyware programs as well as some antivirus programs with anti-spyware components. The review includes a clear side-by-side comparison chart with test results for each of the… contenders. Unfortunately, this review has become dated as newer versions of most of the software are now available and CNet.com hasn't posted new anti-spyware reviews since this roundup appeared.

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10. PC World
As of Mar. 2009
Security Reviews
by Editors of PC World
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment PC World only rarely looks at standalone anti-spyware software. The magazine recently evaluated a number of Internet security suites that include anti-spyware features, but mostly does not evaluate performance in that regard. An older roundup of anti-spyware software is too dated to be useful.
11. 2-Spyware.com
As of Mar. 2009
Anti-Spyware
by Editors of 2-Spyware.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This anti-spyware site includes a database of removal tools, including five recommended programs. Ratings are provided alongside reviews that seem to concentrate more on listed features than testing, though a few go into more depth. This site is worth a visit, however, for its news articles and listing of corrupt and questionable anti-spyware programs.
12. Adware Report.com
Feb. 2008
Spyware Reviews -- Feb. 2008
by Editors of AdwareReport.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Adware Report tests and ranks 25 anti-spyware programs, charting test results and other information for the top 10. Accuracy is a concern, as there are signs that software isn't retested as new versions are released. The anonymous nature of the site also does little to inspire confidence.

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