Top Spyware Removers

The best anti-spyware software

According to reviewers, Webroot Spy Sweeper 2011 (*Est. $30) and PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2011 (*Est. $30) are the most effective commercial anti-spyware programs. Both programs get high marks for their spyware-removal capabilities, but Spyware Doctor has taken the lead over Spy Sweeper. Download.com calls it a "solid spyware remover," and it's highly rated at TopTenReviews.com as well.

Spyware Doctor 2011 uses proactive, reactive and automatic protection to block spyware and adware. The Site Guard functionality alerts you to any suspicious websites or unsafe downloads from the web, email or chat networks. Spyware Doctor also blocks cookies and automatic downloads. For technical support, users have access to support personnel via phone, email or web chat. Spyware Doctor also comes bundled with antivirus software in Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 2011 (*Est. $40), which earns a very good rating from PCMag.com.

Reviewers say Spyware Doctor 2011 is effective at blocking spyware and alerting users to any hidden adware while they're surfing the web. "This program is one of the best when it comes to spyware removal effectiveness," say the editors of TopTenReviews.com. Testers particularly appreciate the gaming mode, which prevents interruptions and slowdowns when playing games at full screen. The anti-spyware software's interface is easy to use, according to reviews, and is intuitive enough for beginners. "It was easy to use, and worked smoothly and quietly," says Niamh Lynch at Softonic.com. A previous version of Spyware Doctor won a group test of anti-spyware software at Web User, where editors say it "found more spyware than any of the other software."

A few reviewers say the free trial version of this anti-spyware software, which allows you to evaluate the program before purchasing, is pretty weak since it only detects spyware and doesn't actually remove it. Spyware Doctor 2011 gets relatively high ratings at Softpedia.com, a download site, but some users report unnecessary computer slowdowns and freezes when they upgrade to a new version. There are also a number of negative user reviews at Download.com, where some say the anti-spyware software freezes their computer or complain about poor customer service.

Webroot Spy Sweeper 2011 (*Est. $30) also earns several recommendations as the best anti-spyware program, including a Gold award from TopTenReviews.com. Spy Sweeper offers continuous monitoring against spyware, and it provides automatic updates so your computer has the latest protection. Free telephone support is another plus. Like Spyware Doctor, Webroot Spy Sweeper 2011 features a gamer mode, which is helpful for those who like to watch movies or play games on their computers. Reviewers say the software is easy to use and successfully defends their systems from spyware threats. "We went with the recommended setting and never incurred any problems and we are constantly online and regularly downloading files, images and software," say the editors of TopTenReviews.com, although they notice a slight decrease in computer performance.

The combined software, Webroot Antivirus with Spy Sweeper 2011 (*Est. $40), earns an Editors' Choice award from PCMag.com, which praises the easy-to-use interface. The review focuses on the software's antivirus capabilities, but Neil Rubenking says Spy Sweeper with antivirus is simple enough for beginners but still provides enough tools and reporting for advanced users. However, at Download.com, editors give Spy Sweeper an average rating. Like Spyware Doctor, Spy Sweeper offers a free trial that only detects spyware and does not remove it. The editors say that makes it tough to evaluate the software to see if it's worth purchasing. We also saw a number of negative user reviews at Download.com, where Spy Sweeper earns a 3-star rating after nearly 1,400 ratings. Many recent reviewers complain about poor customer service, and some say the anti-spyware software doesn't detect all spyware. Others say they were surprised by the automatic renewal fees.

Unfortunately, there are no reviews that directly compare the two stand-alone anti-spyware programs from Webroot and PC Tools. Current user ratings are very similar, so it may come down to which interface you prefer. Both companies offer a limited free scan, which detects but doesn't remove spyware, so it may be worth a download to see which is easiest to use. Webroot offers a 30-day return policy for Spy Sweeper as long as you purchased the software from Webroot.com or have the original receipt from a third-party retailer. Most retailers won't take back opened software, so that is a plus. PC Tools also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only if you download Spyware Doctor from PCTools.com. If you install one of these top-rated programs and encounter difficulties, you should be able to uninstall it and switch to the competing product.

Sunbelt's CounterSpy 4.0 (*Est. $20) is another program to consider. The latest version hasn't seen much in the way of professional reviews, although the previous version earned a perfect 5-star rating from Download.com. Seth Rosenblatt, who calls CounterSpy "basic but powerful," says the software has fully customizable scans and runs without negatively impacting computer performance. "The feature set, the fully functioning 15-day trial, the smart design, and the strong stability and performance are all major factors that contribute to the top rating for this antispyware app," he writes. (Note: The free trial has been increased to 30 days since that review was written.)

CounterSpy 4.0 places second to Webroot's Spy Sweeper in TopTenReviews.com's latest roundup for its solid performance and low price. It removed all spyware samples in this test without bogging down the computer. "We liked how we could multi-task even during an active full scan, with no noticeable slowdowns," the editors write. Despite the price, CounterSpy anti-spyware software doesn't skimp on features, which include email scanning, anti-phishing and scan scheduling. CounterSpy can also scan for and remove spyware on boot before Windows loads. The company offers a 30-day free trial -- which includes spyware removal, unlike Spyware Doctor and Spy Sweeper -- and offers phone and chat support.

Stopzilla 5.0 (*Est. $40) earns a Gold Star award from StarReviews.com. Editors there appreciate the daily automatic updates and quick installation. However, full-system scans take some time to complete (3.5 hours in StarReviews.com's test), and the pop-up blocker, while effective, can be just as annoying as the pop-ups themselves. However, StarReviews.com does give Stopzilla anti-spyware software high marks for customer support. TopTenReviews.com also gives Stopzilla a positive review, ranking it third behind Spy Sweeper and CounterSpy. Editors praise the software's spyware-removal performance and call it a "great anti-spyware solution," but they note that Stopzilla can have an impact on your computer's performance. "While the resource management by Stopzilla is decent, don't be surprised to find a noticeable slowdown to your computer, especially while running the scans. You'll definitely want to schedule the scans to run when you're not working," the editors write.