14 DAY TRIAL // The most dangerous threat for computers nowadays is definitely spyware. The little nasties just have an irresistible attraction to poorly protected computers and simply can't withhold from making some damage. They can even bring your computer to a halt or simply stay hidden in a system file and collect all sort of information about the activity on the computer.
If you ever wondered how come the webpages are so "inexplicably" smart and all the pop ups present exactly what you need or what you've been searching for, think no more: it is just a matter of spyware (your browsing habits are sent to a remote location that in turn will bomb you with the "right" ads).
In any case, one thing is clear: spyware must not get comfortable on your computer. They are privacy intruders and from their activity you will gain no benefit. On the contrary, your sensitive data is exposed to remote users and you run the risk of giving away your credit card details, bank account information or other highly restricted information.
The list of anti spyware softwares available on the market is immense, but few match the options available in SpyCatcher Express. First of all it is absolutely free. Secondly, it comes with real-time protection to give you security at all times.
The interface is highly explicit in features and options and the user-friendly quality makes it extremely appealing. The menus run down in the left hand side of the application giving the user an easy access to all the tools and features available.
In Status section, the application makes a short display of the condition of your computer. You will have the time of the last spyware scan and the protection module enforced for real-time security. For this last report on the health of your computer, you will also learn about the number of threats stopped with the activated real-time protection.
Spyware Scan module of the application is an open door to making the scan options. A quick scan will search only in the habitual spyware residence areas while a deep scan checks all the locations on the disk. Customized scans should be used whenever you want a certain folder or directory checked for malware. Using the latter option you will be able to set the application to sweep memory and registry locations, too.
The three levels of real time protection offered by the software range from High (blocks spyware when detected, stops browser hijacking, protects system settings, prevents keylogging, blocks rootkit infections and adware pop-ups), to Custom (you make your own settings on how the program should act upon detecting malware attacks). A middle option is also available in the form of Normal protection level (browser hijacking, keylog protection and system settings security are all off, as well as adware pop-ups).
Unlike the pay version of the software, Express edition of SpyCatcher does not include automatic download and install of the updates. All there is available in this sense is automatic download of the fingerprint updates and prompting the user about installing them.
Alerts is the fifth menu running down in the left side of the window and here you have to specify the way you want to be warned about unwanted software trying to run or change the browser/system settings, or trying to record keystrokes. The silent alert consists in SpyCatcher's icon simply blinking in system tray. The more daring alternative is a tray pop up.
And in case you miss the pop up you won't get a chance to learn that actions have been taken against attacks...well, unless you go to My Spyware window under protection menu and check out the activity yourself.
The Tools menu comes with five goodies and some of them can be very helpful in the spy-catching activity. System Explorer displays a detailed list of all the applications running on your computer. Too bad there is no option for getting rid of those processes prying on you. However, you have access to a detailed process tree and a file information window giving you the particulars and allowing you to search them on the web in case information is not available.
Cookie manager shows all the tracking cookies stored on your computer. With a simple click of the mouse, you can lose them all. Don't be shy, there is nothing in there you're going to need later (but just in case, take a look at the websites they work for). If you think there are some more elements to be wiped out, perform a tracking cookies scan.
Log entries are also available and the corresponding window will provide you with all the information on the different tasks undertaken by the application. Disallowed applications, API calls, registry writes, internal failures, as well as actions like application kills, scans or database updates. In the lower part of the window, the user can choose the time for displaying the logs (unfortunately, a daily recording is not available and you can see the report for the last day, week or month only).
SpyCatcher provides a pretty good protection, not an elite one, but combined with other applications in the same field of activity your computer can become quite a fortress against spyware. Being a free version there are some mischiefs but you can overcome them quite easily.
The Good
It provides real-time protection which consists of two preset levels and a custom one which gives you the chance to enable your own guards.
Easy to handle and with a complete help file, SpyCatcher also comes with a scan scheduler to verify your machine for spyware at specified times.
The Bad
The resource usage is not as low as I expected. Memory reached 76MB and during the scans CPU level increased dramatically to a 77% peak (at least during our testing) while the memory reached about 90MB.
Enabling the protective features is quite uncomfortable: the description and selection of the protection is in one place while the status button is in a window next to it. Placing the status button in the same window and creating one for each feature is a more agreeable way to do it. But this is not such a big deal afterwards. More important is that they work and do their job.
The overall performance of the computer seems to be affected while SpyCatcher is running on the computer. As soon as I eliminated it, everything came back to normal.
When closing the real-time protection, the window warns you about the implications of this action, but gives you no option to change your mind (sometimes you may open the dialog by mistake). Only the confirmation button is available.
The Truth
It works and it does a fine job. Keyloggers and spyware detection elimination rate is not amazing, but then again we've seen greater names fail in this chapter. Additionally, it stops infections before getting to your computer. The baddies are not too expensive for a modern computer running Vista and even for an XP with a heftier CPU and bumped up RAM, save the fact that other applications are also affected by SpyCatcher.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
