Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

• Editor's Rating:

  3.0 stars

• Average User Rating:

  3.0 stars (out of 1333 votes) Rate it!

• Downloads:

  11,293,475

• Operating Systems:

  Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000

• Additional Requirements:

  Windows 2000/XP/Vista

• Limitations:

  See description

• Date Added:

  February 02, 2007

• Previous Versions:

  Select a version Webroot Spy Sweeper 6.0 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.8 Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.5 Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.2 Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.2 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.2 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.0 Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5 Webroot Spy Sweeper 3.5 Webroot Spy Sweeper 5.0 Webroot Spy Sweeper 6.0 Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.0 Webroot Spy Sweeper 3.5 Spy Sweeper - Smart Spyware Removal 2.0 Spy Sweeper 2.0 Spy Sweeper 1.5 Spy Sweeper 1.7 Spy Sweeper 1.5

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Publisher's description of Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

Get complete protection from the two most dangerous threats on the Internet--spyware and viruses--in a single, easy-to-use solution. Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus incorporates virus protection by Sophos to offer an advanced detection, blocking, and removal available to beat all types of dangerous viruses, spyware, worms, and Trojans. The software is easy to use and requires minimal interaction--updates are automatic.

Powerful Smart Shields block threats as you browse--before they ever reach your computer. Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus offers complete computer protection and catches hard to find viruses and spyware programs. With advanced detection and removal capabilities, even the most dangerous files are removed in a single sweep. You won't have to scan and restart your PC repeatedly with Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus--one sweep and your PC is clean The Free Scan download scans your PC for spyware and viruses, reports the threats to you, and enables active shields to block future infection. Removal of current infection is limited to the paid version. Version 5.5 includes inbound and outbound e-mail attachment scanning and enhanced real-time threat protection capabilities.

Note: Version 5.5 includes Ask Toolbar and Search Assistant. The installation of these items is optional.

Editor's review of Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

• 3.0 stars

• "Sweep for threats"

• Reviewed by: CNET Staff
• Version reviewed: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

This rock-solid antispyware tool gets an upgrade for Windows Vista compatibility, but with its spyware-removal limitation, the protection offered is only as good as the money you pay for it.

The interface is easy to understand, and the Home section should steer new users to the necessities: starting a scan, checking shield status, and updating definitions. As in older versions, the Quarantine section will let you restore any components accidentally altered after a system scan. The Sweep option includes a flexible scheduler, the ability to change the default scanning method level, and other options to customize the program. In addition to its real-time, browser, and ActiveX shields, the app offers several barriers to other threats such as Windows Messenger Service exploits, keyloggers, rogue start-up items, and pesky rootkits.

There were no problems running the app on Vista, but be sure to uninstall any other third-party antivirus apps to avoid conflicts. Unfortunately, Spy Sweeper maintains its detection-only trial limitation, making it impossible to test how well it actually removes malware. Anybody concerned with keeping malicious software and viruses off their computer shouldn't bother with the trial unless they're pretty sure they're going to buy the full version.

User reviews of Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

• Average user rating: 3.4 stars out of 1333 votes
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 5 of 80 user reviewsSee all 80 user reviews
  This software version | All versions

• 1 stars

  63 out of 77 people found this review helpful

  Version: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

  "TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY!"

  by IRONFISTUSA on February 7, 2007

  Pros: NONE

  Cons: Webroot was good in it's time but after adding and pushing a lame antivirus...it has lost the meaning of what it was created for....Spyware. Now commercialized and profits first ideals....it has become a major resource hog with its added antivirus program. When you download it, it will download a inactive but active version of a lame antivirus program that will kill your resources and conflict with at least 50 percent of your normal programs. They have contracted this mess to a unreliable antivirus company and have totally ignored their antispyware concept...just for the sake of acouple of bucks. Stay away from this mess....no longer reliable or effective....check it out....they are trying to get you to pay 10 bucks for a lame add on antivirus. If your foolish to download it check out the interface...the antivirus is a impulse buy to get you to throw away your cash!! Money,Money and more Money. Why in Gods name would you spend money for this when there is NOD32 and Kaspersky out there...and they are TOPS!! Webroot is DEAD and they know it! The last shot before they retire. Stay away from this mess at ALL COSTS!!!

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• 3 stars

  58 out of 83 people found this review helpful

  Version: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

  "Good Protection"

  by Reborn master on February 6, 2007

  Pros: Webroot gives great protection against virus and spyware.Spy sweeper is an excellent antispyware it has superb detection, removal and protection.Antivirus uses sophos engine for scanning and removal and it's good.Ongoing protection gives full protection from malware.Updates daily(sometimes hourly).

  Cons: After using this progam it slowed my pc.The antivirus missed couple of virus which f-secure was able to detect.

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• 2 stars

  38 out of 43 people found this review helpful

  Version: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

  "A Degraded Product"

  by Bongolissimo on February 9, 2007

  Pros: Most XP users will benefit from this products Spyware detection capabilities.

  Cons: Spy Sweeper was once the leader in spyware detection and removal, but with the introduction of version 5.0 and going forward, a number of issues relating to impacts on system performance have not been adequately addressed. With the introduction of a second-rate anti-virus product, Spy Sweeper's reputation is seriously on the decline. Customer service seems to consist more of delaying tactics and giving users the runaround than digging in and solving problems. Example: Spy Sweeper claims to be Vista compatible, but running a scan on my Vista system (3.0GHz P-IV Processor, 2GB of Ram), it took Spy Sweeper over 3 hours to scan roughly 150,000 files taking up less than 40GB of space on my C drive (I excluded all other drives just to be able to complete a scan). Dealing with support takes forever via no actual contact other than by writing a problem ticket that is most likely to be answered by rote suggestions from their FAQ list the first go round (more time wasted). In my case on the second attempt at getting at the problem I received instructions for submitting a report using command line suggestions that pertained to Windows XP and not Vista when all prior correspondence clearly stated I was running Windows Vista, (but then the ticket submission system hasn't caught up to the fact that Vista is even in existence, as the drop down selections you are required to provide, informing support of your system and problem only provide XP or older options. These people have only had a year or so to get ready for Vista. This is not the Spysweeper we once knew. A growing number of users are suffering serious performance issues (as can be seen in some of the other reviews on this site which the company has not adequately addressed and now with a new and inferior antivirus product being thrown into the mix before they've sorted out their other problems Webroot is squandering what was once a very good reputation and losing longtime customers like me.

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• 3 stars

  36 out of 44 people found this review helpful

  Version: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

  "Good tool, but can eventually slow a system"

  by LJKTS on February 3, 2007

  Pros: Webroot does a great job of identifying and stopping spyware.

  Cons: I have done maintenance on several machines that have Webroot installed. Over a period of several months, it can eventually slow a system's performance.

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• 2 stars

  107 out of 155 people found this review helpful

  Version: Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus 5.5

  "review is for version 5.5"

  by DARK_EMPEROR on July 14, 2007

  Pros: it is still a fair product, but has steadily declined. in it's defense, so has every other so called anti spy app. not sure why they bother. is there a need to come out with a new version 4 times a year. if an all in one scanner like antivir premium or kaspersky can go a year why not spysweeper and spyware doctor. the only malware scanner i run active is kaspersky. the only other scanner i would trust is antivir premium. i do let windows defender run in the background to monitor system changes. other than that. i'm good.

  Cons: get's less effective with each new version......... but like i said, so do the rest of the like apps. not sure what they're trying to do. my guess is they wasted resources trying to incorporate av scanners into them. and at this point, i'd trust antivir premium and kaspersky to catch so called spyware every bit as much as a spyware app. virus scanners win, anti spy apps lose.

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