Webroot Spy Sweeper 5 review

Should you pay for anti-spyware? Webroot argues you should

26 September 2006 11:00 GMT / By Stephen Patrick

In recent years, Webroot has become something of a favourite of anyone who takes protecting their computer seriously. Sure, there are bigger names out there that work just as well, but none really offer the simplicity Webroot has become known for. This latest version builds on the success of version 4.5 and adds an extra layer of protection or two of its own.

There are no amazing secrets to be had in this latest version. It still has the power to clean any infestations on your machine and can prevent any future attacks. However, what this version brings with it is a newly designed interface that is easier to set-up and, most importantly, get the most from.

The main screen is clear of clutter and gives you precise information about the state of your system, the last time you ran a scan, as well as when you’re due to run the next one. This is a nice touch as it takes the fuss of having to remember to check your system out of your hands and prompts you when the time is right.

When it comes to scanning, referred to as performing a "sweep" by the program, it couldn’t be easier. Simply head to the "Sweep for Spyware" screen and follow the on-screen instructions.

To be fair, it’s a three-step process that takes most of the choices out of your hands, which is good because it means you can simply click Sweep and leave it to its own devices. If this sounds like too much work, then you can always set the scheduler to run automatically at regular intervals. We’d suggest running it as night, so as not to interfere with your daily activities on the PC.

If there is one complaint about the sweeps, it is their speed, which is quite slow; another good reason to have them scheduled for when you’re not busy on the PC. That said, they are thorough and we found that trying to purposefully infecting our test machine wasn’t possible.

You can’t delete any viruses from the sweep section, as they need to be run through Quarantine, which checks them against the database to make sure they are effectively cleansed. This lockdown approach to protection simply takes the strain out of things.

The Shield section is there to show you the level of protection you have in place against outside threats, while the Alerts tab informs you of which spyware defences you have in place.

When it comes to updates, you’ll get a year’s worth for your money and they are delivered automatically, so you won’t even have to worry about checking on their status.

Verdict

There have been accusations that such tools as Spy Sweeper should be free and while there are free tools on the web to be had, few offer the complete protection on offer here.

Webroot really has taken the strain out of protecting your computer from viral attacks.

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Review Recap

Made by: Webroot
Price as reviewed: £25
Latest price: Compare prices
The good: Easy-to-use, cheap
The bad: No free version
Quick verdict: The leading anti-spyware package just got easier to use and even offers better protection
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Winner