Spy Sweeper Download

2007-09-22T13:14:00.000-07:00

If you're unsure about the applications installed on your PC -- or know for a fact you've got a few bits of shady software hanging around -- then Webroot Spy sweeper (download available) is a good buy, once you get past the speed issues.

Spy Sweeper installs in much the same way as any Windows executable, but there is one important thing to keep in mind with it, or indeed any any-malware software, and that's making sure that you've got the latest version and the latest anti-spyware definitions. The version of Spy Sweeper provided to us was the boxed CD version, although it's also available for download. If you do go the boxed copy route you'll need to hit the download route regardless, as it's highly likely the version you get will be behind the times, at least in terms of spyware definitions, if not version numbers. Thankfully,with no hassle I was able to update to the latest version and latest definitions.

By default, Spy sweeper installs itself to run on Windows startup, providing defenses against common Windows hijacks and spyware installs, in much the same way that many anti-virus packages do. The main application can then be launched from the system tray or a menu selection. The main application screen is relatively straightforward, with the main option to sweep for malware at the very top, followed by options to view previous test results and the applications and settings that have been "quarantined" in previous sweeps. While it's not what you could call an aesthetically pleasing application, it certainly gets the job done from an interface perspective.

I tested Spy Sweeper on a two different systems; one that had no previous spyware removal tools running on it, and one that had been cleaned by an updated version of SpyBot Search & Destroy. Both tests ran essentially identically. Interestingly -- or potentially worryingly -- the theoretically "clean" SpyBot system -- which had previously been used for testing a variety of P2P applications -- still had some malware traces on it that SpyBot had failed to detect. The clean system had a few cookies detected, but beyond that came back with a clean bill of health.

Once you've identified a Badware threat, Spy sweeper gives you a small information dialog box that should help you work out whether it's something that should be removed, or simply left alone. Detected items are thrown into a quarantine zone, allowing you to check whether any applications that required them have suddenly stopped working. From the quarantine zone it's simple enough to eradicate threats entirely.

Spy sweeper download is quite thorough, but it's also quite slow, and on both tested machines we noticed a solid performance hit while sweeping for Adware. It's acceptable if all you need to do is a little light e-mail checking, or simple Web surfing, but if you've got more taxing tasks in mind, you'll need to set aside separate times to periodically check for Spyware.

2007-08-05T05:11:00.001-07:00

Webroot® Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus offers combined protection at a better value than suites or two standalone products. It provides complete security from the two most dangerous threats in a single, easy-to-use solution.

With advanced detection and removal capabilities, even the most dangerous files are removed in a single sweep. You will not have to scan and restart your PC repeatedly with Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus—one sweep, and your PC is clean.

Additionally, Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus uses advanced smart shields that can detect, remove, and block Internet viruses, spyware, and worms in real time—ensuring overall system performance.

Other features include:
• Award-winning antispyware and powerful antivirus protection
• Effective, easy-to-use protection from the most dangerous Internet threats
• Automatic defense updates keep you protected from the latest threats
• Windows Vista™ compatible

2007-08-05T05:09:00.000-07:00

I can't think of anything that would drive me bonkers faster than the situation you're describing, honestly. If there's one thing that drives me crazy about working within the Windows environment, it's how there are thousands of sites lurking, poised, ready to infect my computer, and once infected, tons of different spyware programs to ruin my computing experience.

First off, though, let's define spyware. Malware is any software that's actually running on your computer without you explicitly granting it permission, installing it or wanting it there. Most typically, spyware tracks what you're doing and reports salient data to a remote server, for example capturing keystrokes and trying to report email addresses or credit card numbers. Very bad stuff!

Some adware does the opposite, though, just acting as a conduit for third parties to drop information on your computer, and I think that's what you're seeing with these online advertisements showing up on your desktop. This category of spyware is called adware, by the way, but it's still the same insidious type of program running without permission on your computer.

To deal with the scourge of spyware, you need to install an anti-spyware tool (why does this remind me of the old Mad Magazine's Spy Vs. Spy comics?). There are a number of choices, ranging from free to fairly expensive, so let me run down a couple that I feel are the best options.

Microsoft has also been putting considerable effort into figuring out how to eradicate spyware from Windows XP computers, and while it's rumored that the upcoming Windows Vista will have a much smarter backend to minimize the risk of spyware, in the meantime it's worth checking out Windows AntiSpyware. However, this application is still in "beta" so there's a slight chance it'll do something bad to your computer, I suppose. My experience is that Microsoft doesn't release something into beta until it's pretty darn stable, so unless you have an exceptional or unusual configuration, you're probably a perfect customer for this application.

When you're deciding what anti-spyware to install, remember that one critical factor is how trustworthy the company is. It'd be terrible to install an anti-spyware program just to find out that it's actually sponsored, secretly, by a spyware group and that it flags and deletes all spyware except from that group. Not too likely, but I would certainly counsel you choose from one of the top four or five solutions in this space, not test out something from a company you've never heard of before.

Ad-AwareFirst off, the single most popular solution to avoiding spyware is LavaSoft's Ad-Aware. This is a great little program that you install and then it promptly scares the daylights out of you by reporting all this spyware that's probably already running on your computer without you knowing. Zap everything, then you'll be able to run your Windows system with just a bit more safety and comfort. Ad-Aware is what I run on my WinXP computers.

A third strong solution is from a German developer, called Spybot Search & Destroy, and it's very highly rated by publications like PC World in this category. To be candid, though, I do know of people who have had problems with this program, especially when they try to switch to another app and delete this one. Buyer beware.

Finally, my favorite choice, and the program that I've installed on the PCs of various family members, is Webroot Spy Sweeper download, a program that costs a few dollars but has an excellent reputation in the industry and frequently wins computer magazine awards as best anti-spyware application on the market. Also nice is that the company offers a free spyware scan right on their Web site, if you're not sure whether you've any spyware installed on your computer or not.

Once you have one of these programs installed, you should be able to both eliminate the adware that appears to have infected your computer and avoid a reinfection in the future.

2007-08-05T05:08:00.001-07:00

A new version of Webroot's Spy Sweeper download 5.5 earned a Best Buy distinction in our October 2006 issue's "Spyware Specialists" story. It produced the top score in performance tests and offers protection against rootkits and phishing Web sites.

In tests performed by AV-Test.org, Spy Sweeper ranked first among the five products tested for "Spyware Specialists." It detected 90 percent of actively running adware and spyware samples and four of nine active rootkits. In disinfection tests, it cleaned up 40 percent of adware and 65 percent of spyware. In real-time detection tests, Spy Sweeper detected all additions to HKCU and HKLM Run keys (Registry keys targeted by many malware threats) and to Windows Startup and the Hosts file. It also detected all changes to the Hosts file and Internet Explorer Home and Search pages.

Spy Sweeper download offers superior features including real-time analysis of phishing Web sites and full startup, scheduled, and custom scanning options. It also includes conveniences like CPU usage settings, which let you decide whether to do a fast system scan that takes priority over other work or a slower scan that's less intrusive. Another nice touch: Spy Sweeper adds itself to the Windows Explorer contextual menu for quick scanning of files and folders.

We do have one reservation: In the version 5.0 beta, Webroot removed Spy Sweeper's previous ability to set a system restore point, relying instead on the restorative features of its Quarantine, where you decide whether or not to remove questionable files found in scan results.

2007-08-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Webroot Software's Spy Sweeper 5.5 is the most effective standalone tool for detecting, removing, and blocking spyware. Although the program didn't perform perfectly in our testing, it was successful in inhibiting most adware and was one of only three products that were able to scan a system successfully with the key logger SpyAgent installed.

Spy Sweeper's Active Shields feature aims to protect you while you're surfing and warns you when your system loads rougware into memory, when your browser home page is changed, or (if you desire) when a site places tracking cookies on your system. The memory scanner detected most malware as the apps were attempting to install.

Spy Sweeper download provided particularly informative descriptions of the programs and the option to scan the system now, scan later, or ignore a spyware app entirely. In a few cases, however, the pop-up window intended to warn us away from a program was hidden behind the installation window until after installation was complete. Spy Sweeper also didn't warn us when we installed CommonName, though it did identify that app during a later scan. Whenever a site or application tried to reset our Internet Explorer home page, a Spy Sweeper dialog popped up to ask if we approved of the change.

I really like Spy Sweeper's scanning capabilities. They're thorough and relatively fast, and the results are organized into a convenient hierarchy so you can see at a glance what spyware was detected without having to wade through every Registry key, file, or cookie that the scanner detected (though this information is available should you desire it). One caveat: You can't resize Spy Sweeper's fixed-size window, which shows only a few lines of information at a time. This can be irritating when you're working with a badly infected machine.

Although scanning itself took just a minute or two, on some of our heavily infected test-beds Spy Sweeper took half an hour or more to quarantine the installed badware. And while it succeeded in eliminating most of the undesirable software on our systems, we were unable to eliminate a handful of products, which managed to use ticklers to revive themselves after each reboot.

Webroot also makes a free version of Spy Sweeper Download, without the live-update capabilities. Spy Sweeper's combination of ease of use, reasonable price, and above-average blocking and removal capabilities makes it an excellent choice for users who want a standalone application.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.

2007-08-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

As the leading anti-spyware product available, it detects and completely removes the nastiest spyware out there like Spy Lantern and Trojan-Downloader-LowZones. Webroot Spy Sweeper Download uses adaptive definition technology for detecting spyware mutations that haven't yet received a defense definition. Spy Sweeper's advanced removal engine deletes the toughest spyware programs in just one sweep - even removing mutated or "rootkit" spies. Spy Sweeper is armed with 16 advanced Smart Shields to block new spyware installations. New user interface makes Spy Sweeper even easier to use and it's backed by FREE expert customer support. So, to protect your PC from spyware, keyloggers, Trojans and other programs, we recommend this effective software. FREE DOWNLOAD.

Key Features:

* Six-time PC Magazine Editor's Choice Winner
* Most technologically advanced spyware research system in the world
* Continuous monitoring to stop malware before it can attack
* Frequent updates to keep you protected from the latest threats
* Thirty-day money back guarantee and FREE world-class customer support

2007-07-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

If you're unsure about the applications installed on your PC - or know for a fact you've got a few bits of shady software hanging around -- then Spy sweeper download is a good buy, once you get past the speed issues.

Spy sweeper download installs in much the same way as any Windows executable, but there is one important thing to keep in mind with it, or indeed any spyware software, and that's making sure that you've got the latest version and the latest spyware definitions. The version of Spy Sweeper provided to us was the boxed CD version, although it's also available for Spy sweeper download. If you do go the boxed copy route (AU$59.95) you'll need to hit the download route regardless, as it's highly likely the version you get will be behind the times, at least in terms of spyware definitions, if not version numbers. Thankfully, after a little initial confusion we were able to update to the latest version and latest definitions.
By default, Spy sweeper installs itself to run on Windows startup, providing defences against common Windows hijacks and spyware installs, in much the same way that many anti-virus packages do. The main application can then be launched from the system tray or a menu selection. The main application screen is relatively straightforward, with the main option to sweep for spyware at the very top, followed by options to view previous test results and the applications and settings that have been disabled. While it's not what you could call an aesthetically pleasing application, it certainly gets the job done from an interface perspective.

We tested Spy sweeper download on a two different systems; one that had no previous spyware removal tools running on it, and one that had been cleaned by an updated version of SpyBot Search & Destroy. Both tests ran essentially identically. Interestingly - the theoretically "clean" SpyBot system - which had previously been used for testing a variety of P2P applications - still had some spyware traces on it that SpyBot had failed to detect. The clean system had a few cookies detected, but beyond that came back with a clean bill of health.

Once you've identified a spyware threat, Spy sweeper gives you a small information dialog box that should help you work out whether it's something that should be removed, or simply left alone. Detected items are thrown into a quarantine zone, allowing you to check whether any applications that required them have suddenly stopped working. From the quarantine zone it's simple enough to eradicate threats entirely.

Spy sweeper is quite thorough, but it's also quite slow, and on both tested machines we noticed a solid performance hit while sweeping for Spyware. It's acceptable if all you need to do is a little light e-mail checking, or simple Web surfing, but if you've got more taxing tasks in mind, you'll need to set aside separate times to periodically check for Spyware.

Ultimately, Spy sweeper download is a good choice if you're concerned about spyware on your PC, especially if you run a lot of ad-supported software, or programs you're not too sure about.

2007-05-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

Spy Sweeper is a great spyware and adware remover. Unlike all of the other 'Free' spyware removal tools this one actually cleans too!
With a shield that protects you in real time this is the only spyware removal tool you will need.
The only unfortunate part about Spy Sweeper is that its only free for one update, it does however contain over 27 000 spyware definitions in its database which is far more than others we have come across.
Overall Spy Sweeper is a highly recommended download.

NEW in Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5

Advanced Blocking and Detection

Using new FlexDef technology, Spy Sweeper can identify and eliminate never-before-seen spyware on the fly - without the need for a specific definition. This break-through advance is just another of the many layers of protection you get with Spy Sweeper.

New Smart Shields

Four new Smart Shields (16 different shields in total) provide greater protection from new spyware installations.

Comprehensive Removal Technology (CRT)

Using new patent-pending removal technology, Spy Sweeper effectively disables the most sophisticated spyware programs. This advanced technology saves you time and effort by removing these vicious threats in one sweep - with no need for multiple reboots.

Aggressive Removal of Sophisticated Spies

Spy Sweeper definitely defeats spyware programs that employ the most malicious technology today - "rootkits" - which bury and hide spyware files deep with your PC, and are invisible to most anti-spyware programs.

Improved User Interface

The Spy Sweeper dashboard lets you quickly view all crucial information about recent sweep results, as well as spy defense updates, subscription status, and more. Plus, you now get a graphical display of the risk level for each threat Spy Sweeper finds making it easier to understand the risks spyware poses to your security.

Faster Automated Definition Downloads

Spy Sweeper now downloads only the new or modified definitions to ensure you have the most up-to-date protection available - instantly on-the-fly.

2007-04-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

Webroot’s Spy Sweeper is an effective standalone tool for detecting, removing, and blocking spyware.

Spy Sweeper can can detect spyware running in memory, stop browser hijackings, examine your startup settings, remove tracking cookies, and eliminate registry changes made by intruding programs. Spy Sweeper does a good job eliminating tough-to-remove spyware that often evades detection or removal with lesser products by removing it during the next boot cycle. It can even detect when new spyware tries to install itself while you are surfing.

After removing offending spyware, Spy Sweeper will immunize your computer against certain kinds of "repeat offenders" such as browser hijackings and tracking cookies. No problems were discovered on either Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Usability

Spy Sweeper has the kind of slick interface one expects with modern utilities. You interact with the program primarily through a toolbar on the left that offers you a few simple choices … but in practice, only one, "Sweep Now", is necessary.

After starting a sweep, Spy Sweeper will perform an in-depth scan of your system. A few minutes later you’ll be shown all spyware that was detected on your system. Spy Sweeper isn’t the fastest anti-spyware of the bunch, but this isn’t because of poor performance. Rather, it's because it scans every file on your hard drive instead of taking hueristic short-cuts that can lead to missed spyware.

Removal

When the scan is complete, Spy Sweeper gives you a detailed report of all the spyware on your system. You can easily choose to leave certain programs installed. You might want to do this, for instance, because many free programs (such as Kazaa) will not work without their embedded spyware. If you’re the curious type and like to poke under the covers, Spy Sweeper will give you a brief description directly in the window, along with a "more details" button that will bring up an informative description of the piece of software in question.

Quarantine

So what happens if you do remove spyware and find out later that it was necessary to run one of your favorite applications? Spy Sweeper quarantines spyware in a special folder in case you’d like to recover it later.

Other Options

Spy Sweeper offers a number of other options, including the requisite scheduler, the ability to scan certain drives (useful for USB flash drives), and immunization functionality.

The immunization functionality can be customized. You can activate or deactivate shields which will guard against home page hijackings, tracking cookies, and in-memory spyware. In particular, this Spy Sweeper's option could come in handy on slower computers, which need all the performance you can squeeze out of them.

2007-03-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5 takes another step towards complete elimination of malicious spyware. As the leading spyware remover product available, it detects and completely removes the nastiest spyware out there like Elite Keylogger, LOP, Trojan Backdoor-Haxdoor & iSearchDesktop. Webroot arms its Spy Sweeper with 16 advanced Smart Shields, including ActiveX, Toolbar, and Spy Communications shields to prevent spyware installations. Unlike other anti-spyware removers, Webroot's Spy Sweeper uses state-of-the-art spyware research methods to identify new spyware threats before they are widely distributed, which provides the most powerful and up-to-date protection against emerging spyware. Spy Sweeper's advanced removal engine deletes the toughest spyware programs - even "rootkit" spies, some of the nastiest next-generation spyware threats - which are specifically designed to avoid detection and removal. This removal technology saves time and effort by eliminating these vicious threats in one sweep requiring no need for multiple reboots. Using new FlexDef technology, Spy Sweeper impressively identifies and eliminates never-before-seen spyware on the fly without the need for a specific spyware definition (so-called "signature updates"). This break-through is just another of the many layers of protection you get with Spy Sweeper. Backed by Phileas, Webroot's automated online spyware research system, Spy Sweeper rates spyware programs by risk level to help users understand the danger that each spyware threat poses to online security. And to ensure customers have the most advanced spyware protection available, Webroot upgrades Spy Sweeper several times a year, and provides those upgrades absolutely FREE. With new user interface enhancements, Spy Sweeper has never been easier to use. With expert customer support, it's reliable, effective, and a MUST-HAVE software. So, to protect your PC from spyware, keyloggers, Trojans and other programs, Spy Sweeper is a smart choice.

2007-03-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

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