Given the effectiveness of Ad-Aware SE and Spybot S&D, which are both free for personal use, you could argue against my reviewing yet another anti-spyware program - particularly one that isn’t free. Your argument would be valid but for the ease of use and overall effectiveness of PC Tools‘ Spyware Doctor. This is an install-and-go program, great for the average user who doesn’t want to fool with configuring a bunch of options she doesn’t understand. And it’s fast - it detects and removes spyware, adware, malware, Trojans, keyloggers, and trackware in about half the time it takes the others.

Buttons for all of the main features are on the Status screen. Three extra-large buttons in the center allow you to perform a full scan, immunize your system and activate the real-time protection feature. Enable this protection and Spyware Doctor is always at the ready, sitting silently in your system tray, monitoring for “any known attempts to hijack, spoil, spy on or compromise your system and your information.”

Spyware Doctor’s ability to find and remove all types of malware is impressive. Normally, I run Ad-Aware, clean what it finds, then follow up with Spybot S&D to pick up any stragglers. But, when I ran Spyware Doctor in place of Ad-Aware, then ran Spybot, I was amazed to see Spybot reporting “no threats.” Spyware Doctor got them all. Frequent updates (three in the last week) ensure that the latest threats will be thwarted.

Bottom line: Spyware Doctor is probably the best single anti-spyware package available for the price: $29.95 for a single PC. Download the trial version here.