Webroot Spy Sweeper Review

I have used a broad spectrum of spyware protection programs and Spy Sweeper is the best out there. As a result, I've been using it for over 3 years. It provides great active protection but really shines during malware removal, at which it is indeed superior. The active protection is effective, if not a little heavy handed, in that it notifies you about every little change you make to your system. The shields do offer a high level of customization, but cannot be turned off for non-critical alerts.

The default settings after installation are something of a weak point, if there has to be any. It does not schedule automatic scans, so if all you do is install the program, you will not get that benefit without scanning manually or setting up a schedule. Also, some minor tweaking is required to get the best performance out of you system. Spy Sweeper does increase your computer's initial startup time, but that can be streamlined with small tweaks, like disabling the splash screen.

One nice feature that is relatively new is that the program will search for program and definition updates with one action. Previously these had to be searched separately. I just wish they included an update button on the Home screen instead of buried in the Options screen.

Overall, this is an easy program to use. The interface is intuitive, installation is simple, and removal of spyware is straightforward. The scans are a little longer that I would like, but they are generally shorter than most anti-virus programs I've used.

If you are only going to use one program to defend against adware and spyware, this is it. It is certainly worth the money and time saved from fixing an unprotected or compromised computer.