SuperAntiSpyware Pro Review
Posted on September 15, 2009 at 5:46 am
Computer technology is constantly moving forward. Machines are built to be faster than their predecessors, hard drives increase in size, and connecting to the Internet is faster now than ever. Unfortunately, in parallel with leaps in computer technology, spyware and virus writers are constantly working on creating deadlier and more difficult to detect malware.
Thankfully, there are a variety of choices when it comes to defending against malicious programs. Symantec, McAfee, and Computer Associates, to name a few, are just three companies producing software solutions protect against malware. However, their products are costly, and typically take up a bit of system resources (processor use and memory) while running on your computer. These programs usually require an annual fee to keep the software registration current.
There are other products on the market that are not only less expensive, but have free counterparts as well. Companies like Grisoft (AVG Anti-Virus), Avast, and AVIRA give away free versions of their software, with reduced functionality, but still the same core components. It is left up to the individual whether they are content with the free version, or desire the premium, paid for, version. These premium versions will typically have a yearly paid subscription, akin to the previously mentioned companies.
One such program that has a premium and a free distribution is SuperAntiSpyware (found here). Once you can get past the unimaginative title, the software itself is excellent. This is one anti-spyware program that has a tendency to find malware that other programs, even the big names ones, fail to find. While the free version of SuperAntiSpyware works well, there are practical reasons to consider upgrading to SuperAntiSpyware Pro.
One of the bigger draws to SuperAntiSpyware Pro is real time scanning. The free version does not have this feature. Pro will monitor your computer for anything that is listed in its database of harmful programs as well as watch you computer for changes in behavior. SuperAntiSpyware Pro provides an easy method to toggle the real time scanning on and off. Simply right-click on the Start bar icon, then left-click on Enable Real-Time Protection.
From this menu, you can access SuperAntiSpyware Pro’s preferences area. Upon entering this section, you can click on the Real-Time Protection tab to see some extra choices for active scanning. In addition to the scanning while you computer is running, there is the option of having your computer scanned during startup and shutdown.
Another advantage that the Pro version has over Free are Automatic Updates. To access this feature, click on the Updates tab while in the preferences area. Here you can tell SuperAntiSpyware Pro to check for updates periodically, check for updates when you start the program itself, and how often to remind you about program updates.
I have used both the Free and Pro versions of SuperAntiSpyware. Through the website claims to the contrary, both versions have a special Repairs tab. The Repairs tab allows you to make specific repairs to things like the Task Manager, the Start Menu Run tool, and repairing your Internet Security Zones. The Repairs section was designed in mind to fix the aftermath of malware that hurts Windows functionality.
While this would not be considered an advantage over the free version, the Pro costs less than the major competitors. At $19.95, SuperAntiSpyware Pro is inexpensive and contains similar functionality to offerings from Symantec, McAfee, and the like. Of course, the Free version wins in this category though.
What it all boils down to is if you have the need for more automation with your copy of SuperAntiSpyware. The Free offering is more manual, with respect to updates and scanning. The Pro version is more “hands off” when it comes to what the user needs to accomplish. SuperAntiSpyware.com is nice enough to give out a timed trial of the Pro version to let the end user try before they buy.
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i have had your anti-spyware program for good while, but when I run spyware doctor right after it, it catches 36 more problems, so yours doesn’t work as well anymore…
AVG also has another free product linkscanner.avg.com that provides real time safe surf capabilities . It’s part of the AVG Free Product but as a standalone works with other consumer internet security products as well. free.avg.com is where the free product is at for home users.
Dell downloaded SuperAntiSpyware into my system when they had to do a complete cleanup in March 2009. They said this program would protect my computer completely, but they added Malwarebytes, too. SuperAntiSpyware always picked up threats when I scanned, so I decided the Pro edition would be even better and I could schedule scans daily. I paid for Pro in about February 2010 and, lo and behold, two months later Dell has to completely clean my system again. And in addition to having to pay Dell the $239 to diagnose and try to solve my problem without complete cleanup, they sold me their external hard drive so they could back up my system before they completely removed and re-installed my programs. I cannot believe these systems let me down, especially after I had paid for Pro.
@cy stanley – Did you also have an antivirus product installed as well? SAS is NOT an antivirus program, and you need something like ESET or Avast in addition. I am a technician and I can assure you Superantispyware is a very good program and I install it for all my customers.
Also, why the f*%K did you let DELL clean it off???!!!! Granted they make some nice machines, but they don’t care one bit about your precious data and you would have been better off finding a local independent computer technician to clean it for you.