SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition

Spyware is nasty business, threatening your security by collecting information about your online activity without your knowledge or consent. SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition is a comprehensive program that can scan and delete spyware and a variety of other types of malware. Although the program cannot deal with true viruses, it's capable of finding and annihilating plenty of other pests.

The program's interface is straightforward, with a large button labeled "Scan your Computer" leading users to the most important feature. Radio buttons let users select a Quick Scan, Complete Scan, Critical Point Scan, or Custom Scan. We decided to start with the Quick scan, which took about three and a half minutes. SuperAntiSpyware detected 107 "threats," all of which were fairly benign tracking cookies. A full scan took much longer - about four hours - and turned up two "critical threats" and 25 "potentially unwanted programs/settings." We were able to deselect any items we wanted to retain using a checkbox, and then delete the rest with the click of a button. The program also has a selection of repairs that can be run to undo damage done by malware, and a scan log keeps a history of all the threats that have been deleted. SuperAntiSpyware has a comprehensive list of FAQs on its Web site, though we found the program easy to use without additional guidance. Overall, we think that SuperAntiSpyware is a good way to supplement your regular antivirus program, and we recommend it.

SuperAntiSpyware Free Edition installs a desktop icon without asking but uninstalls cleanly.