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XoftSpySE Review

Product: XoftSpySE
Price: $39.90
Company Info: ParetoLogic Inc.
Editor Rating:

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XoftSpySE

XoftSpySE review

XoftSpySE, created by the people who brought you the reliable ParetoLogic anti-virus, is a younger and much more capable brother of an old and ill-reputed XoftSpy spyware scanner. The changes between these two editions are colossal, making XoftSpySE a completely new program worthy of a complete and unbiased review. This new version has almost nothing in common with the old and ineffective XoftSpy.

Interface

The interface of XoftSpySE is simple and intuitive, though it offers many more options than the old XoftSpy software did during its last incarnation. Most users can master the software from anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes depending on your level of computer knowledge.

Main features

XoftSpySE has all of the typical capabilities of a state-of-art anti-spyware program. Its features include:

*Scanning Windows registry and running processes,

*Scanning files and folders on all local drives,

*The "schedule" option allowing you to perform scans during off-hours,

*Protecting IE default settings against browser hijackers.

*Displays information about detected threats - their locations, authors, types and danger levels.

*"Restore" function,

*Ability to quarantine infected files.

The only thing XoftSpySE may lack is real-time adware/spyware protection. It used to be a sole domain of firewalls, but now it is a must-have for most reputable spyware scanners. Luckily there are other spyware programs you can use in conjunction with this program to make a dynamic duo of protection for your computer.

Performance

While the chances between the new and old versions of the program are starkly evident by using the interface, if you really want to see how far this program has come over the years, all you have to do is try it out. XoftSpySE uses a large adware/spyware database of over 43,000 entries, updated on a regular basis, so the program is able to detect (and successfully remove) most popular and many uncommon threats.

What is more, the old scanning engine of XoftSpy was dramatically improved in XoftSpySE. It is now effectively faster than its predecessor - despite the fact that it uses a large threat database, which has been the nemesis of many similar programs.

Pros & cons:

+ Effective removal tool,

+ Lots of information about detected threats.

- Slow scanning process.

Summary

While the old XoftSpy was clearly a member of the lonely "stay away from it" category, the second edition is a good and reliable spyware scanner. We hope that the next generation of ParetoLogic products (ParetoLogic Anti-Spyware) will be even better. It is a good sign, however, that ParetoLogic took the dead XoftSpy brand and completely revamped it, and in the process, turned it into quite the fine little program. Some experts thought that the name wasn't worth saving and that ParetoLogic would be better off launching a new program under their own banner, but there is still some life left in the XoftSpy name and ParetoLogic is well on its way to restoring the lost luster that that name stood for years ago. We're excited to see where the product goes from here, but it is definitely headed in the right direction.

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