#2 Spy Sweeper (Webroot)

Spy Sweeper comes a very close second to Spy Doctor. It removes only marginally less spyware than Spyware Doctor, hence the close second. However, Spy Sweeper is more automated, and better suited to those that want all the protection possible without needing to think about it.

Is there any major threat that Spy Sweeper will miss, and that Spyware Doctor will detect and remove? Nothing significant that we've found - they're pretty much on even ground, and the differences in the threat database are only marginal.

The software interface was designed with the average user in mind, requiring virtually no knowledge. While spyware doctor may also be user-friendly, the interface is not quite as well laid-out.

The only element that is particularly annoying about Webroot's Spysweeper is on slow computers, the software will be working in the background automatically updating itself. This process can momentarily bog down slower computers, and you know nothing about it unless you open the interface and see it working. So while it's good that is works automatically, but a bit of a pain when it slows down your computer without you readily knowing about it. On faster computers, you are unlikely to notice any difference.

VERDICT: Spy Sweeper comes a very close second to Spyware Doctor. Generally we'd advise Spyware Doctor instead, unless you hold complete automation in very high regard. You will get much the same protection as Spyware Doctor.