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| Anti-Spyware Scanner | Scanning efficiency 1 | Detects suspicious processes in memory | Prevents changes to Registry run keys | Protects against home- and search-page changes | Protects against Hosts file changes | Other 2 | Supports scheduled/ startup scans | Supports automatic or scheduled updates | Comments |
| Best Buy Sunbelt Software CounterSpy 1.0 $20 (  ) | 85% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Posted the highest detection rate in our tests. Offers a wide range of real-time protection, including script blocking and preventing infections from the addition of Browser Helper Objects. |
| Webroot Software Spy Sweeper 3.2 $30 (  ) | 81% | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Has the second-highest overall detection rate. Includes a shield to block the Windows Messenger Service, which is often exploited to serve targeted ads.3 |
| Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal 1.0 Free (  ) | 65% | N | N | N | 4 | N | N | Y | Free scanner provides above-average detection. Real-time protection is available only in the $27 Plus and $40 Professional versions. |
| InterMute SpySubtract Pro 2.6 $30 ( ) | 56% | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Slightly above average in detection. Includes comprehensive history cleaning and secure shredding of deleted files. |
| Safer Networking Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3 Free ( ) | 54% | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Former Best Buy didn't perform as well as the current leaders. Free scanner provides average detection rate, plus real-time prevention components to guard against infection. |
| Computer Associates ETrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware 5.0 $30 (  ) | 48% | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | With a detection rate of slightly less than 50 percent and limited capabilities, this product failed to distinguish itself. |
| Aluria Software Spyware Eliminator 3.5 $30 (  ) | 32% | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | A below-average scanner, Spyware Eliminator provides a unique blacklist of offending sites and ActiveX controls to protect users. |
| McAfee AntiSpyware 1.0 $405 ( ) | 22% | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | This product had one of the lowest overall detection rates, and the real-time protection failed to block or detect anything in our tests. |
| Allume Systems Internet Cleanup 4.0 $30 (  ) | 5% | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Almost completely ineffective at removing or preventing spyware in our tests. Provides features to block ads, pop-ups, and cookies, as well as Internet and system history cleaning. |
1 Denotes each application's overall success rate in eliminating our 81 test examples of adware and spyware infections. See chart Cleaning Up the Mess
2 Includes other forms of real-time protection such as pop-up and ActiveX blockers.
3 Not the same as the Windows Messenger program.
4 Ad-Aware locks the Hosts file only after performing a repair.
5 Download price for new customers; $30 to download upgrade; a packaged disc by mail costs $50.
CHART NOTE: Street prices are as of 1/24/05.