Symantec is the most effective at detecting and removing spyware versus five other vendors. AV-Test (Andreas Marx), under the supervision of TUEV Saarland, conducted a test to determine how each vendor handled the spyware/adware anti-removal techniques.

This test was conducted in June, 2006, with 50 security risk samples randomly chosen by AV-Test from the “top 10” lists of various antispyware vendors, including the vendors that were tested. Further information on testing methodology and samples used can be downloaded here (refer to the Appendix at the end of the technical brief) or visit www.tekit.de.


The results showed Symantec’s lead in the detection and removal of spyware, adware, and other security risk programs. We effectively discover new security risks and are also able to stay on top of existing programs that continually and aggressively update themselves.

Products Tested:
• Norton Internet Security™ 2006 from Symantec
• Sunbelt CounterSpy 2.0 Beta
• Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.5
• PC Tools Spyware Doctor 3.8
• McAfee Antispyware 2006
• Microsoft Windows Defender

All of the antispyware vendors included in this review have received the entire sample set used (installers and dropped files) to independently review the test results and improve their detections.