• The software has a confusing user interface. Most of Adaware’s useful functionality is hidden from the average user.
   
• Can’t schedule scans – on-demand or boot-up scans only mean your computer will be unavailable while it checks for spyware.
   
• Poor customer support.
   
• Higher priced than other top rated solutions.

...from Adware Report, 2006

Spyware Doctor offers solid protection against spyware and a number of additional immunization features to block common security holes. Spyware Doctor installs easily and without any problems, and it is the largest commercial anti-spyware product in the world.

Spyware Doctor also lets you rollback any changes it makes, just in case the spyware was required by an otherwise useful program (Real Player and Kazaa are typical examples of programs that embed spyware on your PC and won’t run without it).

You have to remember to go in to the "OnGuard" settings and scroll down to find the scheduler buried way down at the bottom. The scheduler should be much more easy to find.

PC Magazine Editors' Choice, June 19, 2005 "Spyware Doctor is the most effective of all the products tested at both blocking and removing spyware and keyloggers, and it is our current Editor's Choice."

Spyware Doctor product also includes "OnGuard" memory agents which block common security holes, such as ActiveX, phishing sites, pop-ups, browser hijackers, and more. PC Tools Spyware Doctor is an effective product that provides superior spyware removal capabilities and a great user interface, but there are a few minor problems with usability (such as the scheduler being very hard to find). Overall, this anti-spyware software is highest-rated product on the market, and you can not go wrong with it! Mark my words...

Bottomline:

Lavasoft's adaware SE is a huge improvement over previous versions in terms of usability, but still lags behind the top products in terms of sheer effectiveness.

Adaware software is a better product than most others on the market, but its lack of scheduling ability, average real-time monitoring, and complex user interface detract from its sheer power. It's an ok backup program.

Adaware and Spyware Doctor anti-spyware programs are both free to download, and they will both scan your entire computer and list the number of infections found. No registration is required for the download and scanning.

I have provided both download links below, so you can easily download and test programs.

Both software packages can co-exists on your PC. They will easily un-install with a single click in the Windows Add/Remove icon. Do not delete the folder in the Program Files (as this will not completely remove the programs) - use the Add/Remove Windows feature instead, as per normal Windows operations.

Spyware Doctor also recently received “the best results overall” and gained top ranking of number 1 out of the 10 in a recent review by the top French publication “Micro Hebdo”. David Flynn from the Sydney Morning Herald reviewed the latest version of Spyware Doctor (V3.8) in an anti-spyware round-up. Up against all the most popular anti-spyware solutions, Spyware Doctor was dubbed as “one of the best.”  After being awarded the prestigious Editor's Choice Award in June, Spyware Doctor has been further acclaimed with the "Best of the Year 2005" in the anti-spyware category!

Word of Advice: Make sure the software tools are updated, within the last few days... There are links in the software Help menus to check for the latest updates. DO USE this easy update feature, and DO NOT assume recently downloaded/installed software tools are up-to-date.

Click here for more background and other general information about Spyware and Malware. This site has many detailed references.