Best Vista Antispyware

PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 5.0 program for spyware detection and removal finished far ahead of its competitors in formal tests independently conducted by research company AV-Test.org.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 10:00 PM PDT

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	Rank	Name
PID
	1 BEST BUY	PC Tools Spyware Doctor 5.0 • Price when rated: $30 • Renewal price: $30 • Performance: Superior • Features: Superior • Design: Very Good Downloadable Version Spyware Doctor offers the best spyware and adware protection and is the only program that protects against phishing Web sites. (Last Rated: August 21, 2007) Full Review • Test Report
	2	Grisoft AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 • Price when rated: $30 • Renewal price: $20 • Performance: Superior • Features: Poor • Design: Very Good Vendor's Web Site The program's superior adware and spyware detection is marred by weak behavior-based detection and a high false-positive rate. (Last Rated: August 21, 2007) Full Review • Test Report
	3	Webroot SpySweeper 5.5 • Price when rated: $30 • Renewal price: $30 • Performance: Good • Features: Good • Design: Very Good Downloadable Version Our former Best Buy is well designed and provides good behavior-based detection, but disinfection was not as solid. (Last Rated: August 21, 2007) Full Review • Test Report

	4	Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1 • Price when rated: Free • Renewal price: Free • Performance: Good • Features: Poor • Design: Very Good Downloadable Version This free application did okay with adware, but it can't detect some types of spyware at all. (Last Rated: August 21, 2007) Full Review • Test Report
	5	Safer Networking Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4 • Price when rated: Free • Renewal price: Free • Performance: Poor • Features: Good • Design: Good Downloadable Version Despite strong real-time protection, this free old favorite can't recognize and clean up many of today's threats. (Last Rated: August 20, 2007) Full Review • Test Report

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CHART NOTES: Tests were conducted at default settings except for speed tests, which, when run at default and best settings, produced the same results. Inactive samples included adware, banking-related spyware, and password stealers. Behavior-based tests determined whether software could detect changes to key areas of the system. Prices and ratings are as of 8/8/07.

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