There are two main threats to an internet-connected computer: viruses and spyware.

The latter is now taken seriously as the most serious security threat because it can return information to its authors or even take control of a PC, and it’s more attractive to criminals because it can make money for them.

Webroot is well known for its anti-spyware product, Spysweeper, which is now available with added antivirus in a package called, unsurprisingly, Spysweeper with AV 5.5.

The program handles spyware by scanning files on all disks or on selected ones, checking them against a list of known spyware, which it updates automatically. The user can schedule quick, full or custom sweeps, and the program checks incoming and outgoing email attachments too.

Sixteen ‘shields’ block suspect actions in regularly used areas of a PC, such as System Services, Startup items and ActiveX controls, but only 13 of the 16 are switched on by default. Why the remaining three, which guard against cookies, common ad sites and keylogger programs, aren’t on by default isn’t clear - keyloggers are a particularly insidious form of spyware.

A full scan for spyware and viruses took a leisurely 62 minutes - for comparison, AVG took 23 minutes for the same scan, though it chose to scan around half the number of files. Both programs were set to perform a complete test.

The period between the release of a virus and the release by antivirus companies of a fix for it is now one of the most important when it comes to the way new threats spread. Spysweeper with AV uses so-called behavioural protection, designed by Antivirus company Sophos, to provide cover during this time.

Behavioural protection looks for the characteristic ways in which most viruses act and quarantines programs that behave suspiciously.

The new program does its job well, and protects against most damaging forms of malware. For the £40 asking price, though, you also have a choice of complete internet security suites, including spam protection, a firewall and anti-phishing applications, none of which Webroot includes.

Vista compatible: Yes