Trend Micro has snapped up the software formerly known as InterMute SpySubtract and rebranded it as Trend Micro Anti-Spyware 3. It also incorporates InterMute CWShredder for dealing with the notoriously difficult to remove CoolWebSearch browser hijacker.
Notably, Trend Micro Anti-Spyware 3 was the only product that managed to successfully detect and remove both variants in the test. A speedy performer, it came third for scanning time, and despite a poor removal rating
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(55 per cent), good blocking and detection rates (52 and 67 per cent respectively) saw it match Microsoft for overall accuracy.
We also welcome Trend Micro's automatic definition updating and its low impact on system resources, with the latter thanks to the dynamic adjustment of CPU usage. We didn't appreciate the lack of scan scheduling, but in fairness the Venus Spy Trap real-time monitoring system proved effective, as the relatively high blocking rate demonstrates. It does this by watching for more than 150 different spyware-a-like tactics, including HOST file modification, installation of ActiveX controls and browser homepage redirection. A single alert dialog allows you to deal with all threats simultaneously, a vast improvement over the alert-mad Spybot.
We also approve of the Spy Sleuth tool, which traces the software that installed the spyware by looking at file date stamps and comparing them with URLs visited and other software installed. Like Trend Micro Anti-Spyware itself, it doesn't get it right all the time, but it's a useful addition.
