Spyware Eliminator Review

Version 4.0 of Aluria’s Spyware Eliminator was introduced in Mar 2005 and seriously ups the bar for advanced threat detection and removal. Aluria has been listening to users and in this release its new SMART Scan Technology is introduced. Scans are now 75% faster than previous versions and the results are much more accurate and detailed than before. Results are conveniently categorized into Spyware, Cookies and Consumerware, making it easy for users to distinguish, view and remove malicious spyware separately from potentially non-malicous cookies and consumerware items. This product is very usable by even the most novice of users.

Also present in this version is the "Spyware Retrieval Service" or SRS technology introduced recently in version 3.5. This novel system is used to detect and fight new forms of malware by taking advantage of the programs massive user base. Aluria’s users benefit from the combined learning of hundreds of thousands of computer users the world over. When new spyware is detected by just a few people on the network, everyone gets protected with the latest DAT updates. Nice.

Also new in this version, SE is now part of an integrated Security Center designed to provide premium protection at an affordable price. Users can gauge their level of security with My Security Rating and quickly and easily add the components they require. They include Alurias other popular products for: Antivirus, pop-stopper, firewall, and spam filter. With common user interface elements shared across all applications, Security Center provides a seamless, intuitive and integrated security system for novice to advanced use. Of course SE works just fine all on its own as well.

Last but not least, Spyware Eliminator 4.0 comes equipped with a very slick all-new interface which is clearly designed to accommodate both novice and advanced user needs. The menus and inline help are extremely well laid out and even a first time user should be able to breeze through a cleaning session with ease. Users have the option to run Spyware Eliminator under the default settings, recommended by Aluria experts for maximum security and ease of use, or to customize settings using either the Configuration Wizard or Advanced Options screen.

A real-time scanner is really a necessary feature for any anti-spyware product and Aluria delivers here again with its Active Defense Shield. Anytime a known suspect item attempts to access your computer, ADS immediately identifies and blocks the threat. An Active Defense Alert then prompts you to Block or Allow the file, putting you in control of what is installed on your PC.

Spyware Eliminator is a great program to use. The utility wraps fast and thorough spyware scanning and good threat information in a slick, modern XP style interface. In our tests Spyware Eliminator found all but a few of our scumware applications. SE is also clearly faster than its previous release and was the fastest overall scanner in the group by more than 50%. Whats more the program is a very capable scanner and found 91% of the malware we threw at it, which is 10% better than the previous release of SE.

Extra options include a scheduler for running timed scans as well as detailed logging capabilities. Also included is a rollback feature that correctly re-enabled applications that were disabled when we removed their required adware components. This restores the adware as well, but if you want an app badly enough to live with the adware, this is a welcome ability.

Another set of options controls blocking - stopping spyware from being installed in the first place - and lets you add specific web sites to restricted zones, block ActiveX controls, and restrict access to suspicious IP ranges. This is extremely useful. Although Spyware Eliminator includes a long list of blocked ActiveX controls and IP ranges, there's a lot more on the web that this prevention doesn't cover, but building a list yourself is simple.

Also included is a tool to block homepage hijackers, the HTA vulnerability and Windows broadcast pop-up spam. All of these tools were tested with satisfactory results.

I should also point out that Aluria is also very capable on the customer service end. On any instance I or a co-worker contacted them we were emailed back within hours of our request. The fact that they are very frequently releasing updates to both their software and its DAT files is another indication that they are ‘on the ball’.

It is easy to see why Spyware Eliminator scored so well in our review. By combining a slick interface with all of the standard features someone would expect from an industry leader Aluria already had a top product, commanding much respect. However by leading the way with innovations like their Spyware Retrieval Service, Aluria really ups the ante. If you need a stable, simple and powerful solution you need not look much further. Highly recommended. Be sure and visit Spyware Eliminator's Homepage for the trial version of their scanner.

For more information visit Spyware Eliminator's Homepage.