SUPERAntiSpyware Professional - TechRadar UK

The sophisticated nature of Internet security suites today means that you don't need a separate spyware scanner. At least, that's what the security vendors would like us to believe.

Spyware and tracking cookies remain the one area where security suites fall short, and leading dedicated tools such as Ad-Aware and Spybot Search are all worthy additions to your system's security. Yet with free apps available why would you want to shell out £30 for an anti-spyware program? Quite simply, real-time protection is worth it. That's where SUPERAntiSpyware Professional really works wonders.

Secure requirements

Although a further load on system resources is the price that you pay, we found SUPERAntiSpyware faired very well on a dual-core system. However, if your current system struggles with the programs you're already running, an Internet security suite and SUPERAntiSpyware Professional running together may slow you down noticeably.

We found SUPERAntiSpyware's scanning to be both quick and effective, and the whole menu system really couldn't be simpler, despite looking a little ugly. The Professional version also includes background Registry protection and so-called "First Chance Protection". This examines over 50 critical points of your system each time your PC starts up and shuts down to eliminate threats before they have a chance to infiltrate your system. Again, the effect on system resources was miniscule, and startup and shutdown times were basically unaffected.

This program certainly fits the bill for modern anti-spyware protection and £30 is the same price as other top full versions offering real-time protection such as Ad-Aware 2007 Plus, Spyware Doctor 5.0 and Webroot's Spy Sweeper. However, the slimmed-down feel of SUPERAntiSpware is a big plus and there's enough in the Preferences for more experienced users to warrant a purchase.