Anti-Malware Software – Reviewed and Compared

July 10th, 2009

We reviewed four of the leading anti-malware tools on the net and the results were surprising. While some of the software titles lived up to the hype, others were found seriously lacking.

Why would you use a malware remover?

Is one or more of these happening to you?

Your computer runs much slower than it used to
Your Internet experience is being ruined by annoying ‘pop-up’ ads
Your homepage changes without warning
Your browser crashes frequently and without explanation
Your friends, family and colleagues complain that they recieve suspicious messages sent from your email address.

If you answered yes to one or more of these things – and let’s face it, most of us will – then your system may be infected with malware.

Malware is as common and as dangerous to computer users as it is misunderstood.

Every month literally hundreds of new programs – also known as ‘malware’ – find their way onto unsuspecting computer users’ hard drives. Once there, they can do anything from annoy the user with incessant pop-up ads right up to insidiously logging passwords, account information and sensitive data. Spyware (a special kind of malware) is one of the key drivers of online identity theft and is generally considered to be more dangerous than computer viruses in terms of the damage it can do to your offline life as well as your online world.

The problem is incredibly widespread; in fact it is estimated that upwards of 90% of all home PCs are infected with some sort of malware — and the infection rate is even higher in many workplaces. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that if you download music or videos, click unrecognized links from time to time or download software from anywhere apart from the most trusted of online sites your computer is almost certainly infected with malware.

Thankfully, most malware can be effectively removed quickly and economically. We reviewed the top dedicated anti-malware programs available and reviewed them in terms of their usability, detection and removal ability, features, value and customer support.