SpySweeper 5.5 is a top tier anti-spyware application with excellent on-demand detection capabilities. It is easy to use and provides lots of configuration options for advanced users. For novices, the default settings will work just fine.

User Interface: The Webroot SpySweeper 5.5 interface is clean, uncluttered, and easy to use. Graphics are crisp and most everything the user would want to know is easily visible or accessible from the main (Home) screen.

Real-Time Protection: SpySweeper 5.5 supports many advanced settings of the real-time Spyware protection engine. For the novice user, most default settings are sufficient, although rootkit protection and heuristics must be enabled separately in Advanced Options.

Upgrades and Updates: User can configure how and when updates and upgrades will be performed. Value: The price of SpySweeper 5.5 is $29.95 for a 1-year subscription. You can extend the 1-year subscription to 24 months for $39.95, or 36 months for $49.95. With add-on antivirus protection, the 1-year subscription is $39.95, 24 months is $54.95, and 36 months is $69.95.

Integrated Support Options: Support options include free unlimited toll-free phone support and e-mail. Remote Live Access enables support technicians to get user’s permission and view desktop and share control of mouse and keyboard to fix problems This service costs $30 per incident for installation, and $50 per incident for troubleshooting and other assistance. The Webroot site features helpful articles, links, and FAQs.

Pros

• Easy to install via download.
• Three types of sweeps (scans) enables user to scan for spyware by areas and file types.
• Scheduler wizard enables user to download and install updates daily, monthly, or weekly, and also by day of the week.
• Has several “Shields” that work together to provide comprehensive protection.
• Very low memory footprint: 6 Kb.
• Monitors and blocks known “bad” hosts via the Hosts file.
• The system enables the user to configure multiple different automatic scans.
• Good customer support via an online database, e-mail, and phone support. Fre support via phone weekdays, 9 A.M. – 8 PM ET.

Cons

• User needs to provide e-mail address for trial version of the software, and needs to specify typical or custom installation without sufficient information to make the best decision.
• Homepage does not display application or definition version information.
• User needs to determine in installation if VersionGuard is to check for updates.
• Rootkit detection and spyware detection by behavior (heuristics) are both disabled by default. User must enable these features in Advanced Options; daunting territory for novices.
• Quick Sweep maximizes processing power, thus has a big impact on system resources.
• Spyware detection by behavior (heuristics) is disabled by default and must be enabled independently.
• The ASK.com toolbar is installed by default unless the user specifically opts out. This toolbar has no application functionality. Toolbar must be uninstalled separately from application.
• User cannot disable spyware or pop-up protection easily.

Installation: Installation is easy and fast. However, the user must enter a valid e-mail address to get the trial version. The installation wizard prompts the user to indicate typical or custom installation and enable/disable antivirus protection. These should be default settings to avoid confusing novice users.

Spyware Detection: In our testing, SpySweeper 5.5 detected, blocked, and quarantined a broad spectrum of technically sophisticated spyware in real time, before it breached the system security. Unfortunately, rootkit detection and heuristics needed to be enabled independently in Advanced Options. Because novice users require the same high level of protection as users who are familiar with rootkits and heuristics, these settings should be enabled by default. The SpySweeper 5.5 definition database currently supports over 234,000 malware signatures.

Phishing and Malicious Web site Protection: SpySweeper 5.5 does not provide protection against phishing attacks or malicious Web sites.

Upgrades and Updates: SpySweeper 5.5 is configured to retrieve updates automatically daily. It can also be configured to retrieve updates hourly.

The user can configure how and when updates and upgrades will be performed.

Customer Support: Webroot provides free online Web-based and e-mail support, and an extensive and searchable knowledge base online.

Phone support is available M-F from 7A.M. to 6 P.M. MST. Remote assistance is available at $30 per incident for installation and $50 per incident for troubleshooting of Webroot products.

Scanning: (Sweeping) Users can now select three sets of parameters when scanning for infections. SpySweeper 5.5 can perform scans automatically, on a custom schedule, or manually as desired. We found the Quick Scan, which maximizes system resources, to be very slow.