Pros

• STOPzilla stops all spyware and phishing attacks in real-time so your interaction is reduced
• It keeps track of detected infections and creates an activity log to be used later
• It includes advanced pop-up protection
• Updates are provided automatically

Cons

• STOPzilla’s features need to be strengthened and not expanded to match some of the competition
• Full scans take a long time – 25 minutes when we tested.

View side-by-side comparison of Spyware Removal Software

STOPZilla is one of the best antispyware software products. It has a wide list of tools that help stop spyware, adware, viruses and other malicious attacks. And it protects your PC in real-time, ensuring that threats are stopped before they even reach your PC. In the unlikely event of a Trojan or other infection, STOPZilla will engage its best tools to remove the threat with its fast scan speeds.

It’s not one of the cheapest spyware removal software tools, but the price tag is definitely worth it considering the level of protection it provides.

Ease of Use/Setup

STOPZilla has a simple installation process that takes a few minutes to complete and allows you to familiarize with the software. The download version is available from the STOPZilla website and here you can learn its main features like Scans, Schedules, Pop-ups and Real-time Protection.

When you’ve fully installed the software, you can begin to configure it to your specific needs. You can schedule scans and allow STOPZilla to perform its protection work without interruption. Its scans run in real-time so your intervention is reduced.

It has four scans which include Quick, Intelligent, Full and Customized. You can pick one of these based on the type of sweep you want to carry out.

Updates can also be set to run automatically to ensure that your PC is always up-to-date with the most current updates.

Effectiveness

STOPZilla has high spyware detection and removal rates. West Coast Labs independent tests gave it a Checkmark certification for spyware protection. This means it successfully removes all Trojans, dialers, and other new malware (malicious software) threats. And it has the ability to detect and remove drive-by downloads, phishing scams and browser hijackers.

STOPZilla has a team that’s always on the lookout for new spyware threats, and they constantly work to update the software to keep out new threats. They keep track of infections detected and keep a log of these for future use.

Performance

System slowdown during scans is a problem that plagues STOPZilla. The only way to prevent this is by running scheduled scans when you are not using the PC. And if you do use it during a scan, expect to sacrifice some speed for it to run properly.

The STOPZilla scan speeds aren’t particularly fast, and a full scan takes about 25 minutes to complete. We’ve seen faster antispyware products like Webroot which take significantly less time than STOPZilla scans. You will of course be able to perform other PC functions as you run a scan, but it’s best to perform the scan while you aren’t using the PC.

Technical Support

STOPZilla is always on hand when you have a technical problem or just have an enquiry about your software. You can access this support through email, phone and live chat. We’ve found their customer service to be good and it matches even the top antivirus software products.

You can also find help on their website in the FAQs section, and here you’ll find instructional tutorials which are very easy to follow. The software interface has a Help section which is as good as the one on the website.

Summary

STOPZilla has spyware detection and removal capabilities that match many of the major products like Webroot Spy sweeper and Ad-aware Pro. Overall, it’s a good antispyware software solution that will provide you the best protection online.