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XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 Review

Product: XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0
Price: $29.90
Company Info: ParetoLogic - www.paretologic.com
Editor Rating:

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Review of XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 for Windows 7, Vista and XP

XoftSpySE 7.0 claims to offer serious spyware protection for PC users , and with so many programs floating around these days, most users require a higher level of protection from a number of different divisive applications. The real question with any protective software program, though, is whether or not it actually follows up on its claims in terms of performance, and with XoftSpySE, the results seem to suggest you get spyware protection with a heavy hand.

XoftSpySE is produced by ParetoLogic, a leader in computer security software today. One of Canada's 100 fastest growing companies, ParetoLogic also offers a number of other products including PC Health Advisor, FileCure, DriverCure, Anti-Virus PLUS, Data Recovery Pro, PG Surfer, Privacy Controls, Registry Cleaner, and, of course, XoftSpySE. With a powerful support center to backup all of their product line as well as an extensive online database to help with those quick questions, from the outset, XoftSpySE looks like a good idea.

Fortunately, you have the opportunity to try it before you make your final purchase. A free trial download is available with XoftSpySE, and it's a great way to get a quick look at the interface and performance before you make a final commitment. Once installed, the trial version will scan your computer and help you understand whether or not you have any serious malware problems, as well as how well the program might actually perform for you on an ongoing basis. In a world where free trials aren't always worth the hassle, XoftSpySE certainly is, and it seems to be the ideal antispyware solution for users who are truly concerned about their computer's security.

Interface

The key with most programs like this today intuitivity. No one wants to spend hours searching a new program for the right functions to enhance computer protection, and here, ParetoLogic has designed a real winner. Menu bars and extensive pull downs are a thing of the past with this interface, and even novice users won't have trouble finding exactly what they're looking for in this simply designed program interface. Like many of today's websites, the navigational bar appears on the left, and it takes only a glance to decide exactly what you're looking for as soon as you load the program. With choices like Scan, Ignore, Backup, Tools, and About, it's not hard to figure out which button to click, even if you're not as computer savvy as you'd like to be. The main pane of the program offers you information about the tab that you're in, and if you're ready to scan, it's as simple as hitting a large, green button that says "Start Scan." There are advanced settings if you wish to change things, and as with many programs on the market today, you can choose from three different possible scan modes: Full Scan, Quick Scan, and Custom Scan.

Once the scan is complete, the interface continues to be fairly easy to use. Each spyware threat is listed out with the name of the threat, the threat level, the option to ignore it, and a clickable link that will help you understand exactly what the file is that you're considering. This can be quite useful in cases where you're not sure the file XoftSpySE found is actually a problem on your particular machine. When you're finished browsing through the results, it's as simple as hitting clean to get rid of any problems.

One of the best features about this software, particularly for beginners or those who get busy and forget to continually scan their computer for threats, is the number of advanced scheduling options available. It's possible to auto scan, using any feature, at any point in time, so if you wish to simply start the scan every afternoon just before you shut your machine down for the day, that's no problem with this software. Automatic updating features are also included here, which can be quite helpful for those who forget to update before a scan takes place.

Performance

The real key with any antispyware solution, however, isn't how easy it is to use, it's how well it actually performs, and even here, XoftSpySE proves to be a champ. Many have suggested its one of the fastest scanners online, and while the jury is still out on that particular claim, it is certainly a fast one. What's more, though, is that the speed doesn't seem to heavily affect other programs that you're running at the time, which is essential if you're trying to multi-task, yet run a scan at the very same time. It can certainly run in the background, and while you will notice it, you're not likely to get frustrated with a lacking performance as a result of the scan itself.

Performance, however, doesn't only mean the level of performance you get from your machine, but also the actual performance from the software itself. Fortunately, XoftSpySE is up to the challenge. Initial, reliable detection is the first important indicator in any evaluation, and this software seems to have a great ability to detect things. From spyware to adware to keyloggers to Trojans, the program catches many of the top threats that exist today, and while that sometimes includes false positives, the fact that you can quarantine files before you actually delete them offers real performance and protection without any serious risk. Popup generators are subject to an active blocking strategy as well, and because the company continually updates its database of problem programs, it's possible to catch risks before you even know they're a problem for your system.

The other real benefit in terms of performance is that this program scans everything, even your computer's registry, so if you have an invalid entry that could cause problems or create security holes in the future, the program will be able to pick them up before they cause any serious issues.

Pros and Cons

+Offers a more complete scan than many other solutions on the market today. While it certainly scans the typical concerning files and folders, it also offers to scan the registry for you, where problem programs can take root and you won't notice them. This level of effectiveness is very helpful for most consumers.

+Catches a wide variety of problem programs, not just spyware. Trojans, adware, keyloggers, and even malicious code are all at the mercy of the program once it's installed, and it readily catches these common problems and quarantines them or eliminates them before they have the chance to wreak havoc on your computer.

+Includes a Browser Helper Object Editor that can help to better deal with the constant add-ons you may find on your computer's main browser. It not only displays all of the browser helpers that are already part of your computer, but then it gives you the option to enable or disable the items so that you can browse problem free in the future. A fairly easy process, just make certain you actually want to disable the object before you decide to do so.

-As with most antispyware programs, you may find some false positive results with this one. This isn't an all bad thing, however, because the program does include a quarantine feature, so you can go back and take a look at the file to reinstate it if it ever becomes necessary to your system.

-Technical issues can't be addressed by email with this program. There is a live chat function, but it's only open during working hours, as is the hotline, so if you're having a serious issue and it's not during their typical business hours, you may have to wait a few hours to get the help you need.

+/- XoftSpySE runs only on Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP operating systems. It does require 190 MB of disk space to install, as well as an internet connection and Internet Explorer before you can make it part of your computer.

Summary

XoftSpySE 7.0 is a slightly more complete security package for those looking for real antispyware protection than many other companies can offer. ParetoLogic has been a well respected name in the computer security market for several years now, and the release of this program adds quite a bit of credibility to that claim as a whole.

The scanner feature here is not only one of the fastest options on the market, it's also less likely to interrupt your typical computer processes, as it actually can run quietly in the background of whatever you happen to be doing. Stability, which can be a serious problem with other antispyware solutions, isn't a real problem here. Perhaps it's the fact that scans take so little time, but you're unlikely to have the scanner actually crash on you in the midst of a scan, and once the scan is complete, you'll be impressed with even the scan results themselves. Easy to read, easy to clean, and simple to use at the overall level, it's certainly one program you may want to look into if you're shopping around for the right security solutions to meet your needs.