Antispyware Updates
November 18, 2009
SpywareQuake is the latest rogue antispyware threat to hit the net. Like all rogue antispyware, SpywareQuake is a fake antispyware program that aims to either take your money, or steal your identity.

But SpywareQuake is a bit more dangerous than previously thought...read more

This year's version of CA antispyware comes packaged along with what CA calls, "anti-virus plus." CA does an adequate job at detecting, removing, and preventing spyware and viruses, but not good enough, in our opinion. In independent tests, scanning results were average at best. Spyware, viruses, and other malware were only detected part of the time, and removal wasn't up to our standards.

If you're looking for a very basic anti-spyware and anti-virus application, CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 will do ok, be highly recommend one of our top picks this year instead.

Editor's Overview

• Simple antivirus protection
• Simply antispyware protection
• No anti-phishing feature
• Poor tech support
• Poor setup and installation
• Third-party add-ons are part of the install

On the good side, CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 is a bit lighter and faster than previous versions. Plus, we have to give them credit for bundling antispyware with antivirus protection: it just makes sense.

On the down side, CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 is only average when it comes to cleaning and protecting your PC. For low-level infections, CA can handle things just fine, but for more heavy-duty lifting, CA Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 leaves much to be desired.


Anti-spyware Features

• Basic interface
• Low system memory usage
• Real-time spyware and virus threat alerts
• FAQ pages for support
• Automatic daily threat updates
• Automatic e-mail scanning
• Scheduled system scanning
• Heuristic scanning

The other troubling feature with Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 is the fact that they try to install third-party software (Yahoo toolbar). The toolbar isn't harmful in anyway, it's just annoying. If you're not careful, Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 will install the Yahoo toolbar and replace your PC search function with Yahoo. For some this may not be such a bad thing, but we'd like to choose that for ourselves.

Another ding on their score card is CA's attempt to upsell you to a firewall. Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 makes it clear you don't have a firewall, then recommends you buy one. How nice of them.


Support

• Very limited tech support
• Light documentation
• No owner's manual
• No online chat
• No support forums
• $19.95 fee per incident if you want to talk to a live person

System Requirements

• Note: Product does not currently support the following operating systems: Windows XP 64, Windows Vista 64, Windows 98/Me
• Windows 2000 (SP4+), Windows XP (SP1+), or Windows Vista
• 256 MB RAM (512 MB for Windows Vista)
• 300 MHz or higher processor (800 MHz for Windows Vista)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher (7.0 for Windows Vista)
• 50 MB hard disk space
• CD-ROM drive
• Internet access
• Download Size: 22.1 MB

Conclusion

Anti-Virus Plus CA Anti-Spyware 2009 is average at best. We can't make a strong recommendation for this unless you really don't need tech support and you want a very simple set up with minimal protection. Try one of our top recommendations instead.