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Enigma SpyHunter 4

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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65 EXPERTS
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Enigma SpyHunter 4 does what it promises, eliminating active malware and killing malware that launches at startup. But competitors deliver much more. - Enigma SpyHunter 4
3.0 Average

The Bottom Line

Enigma SpyHunter 4 does what it promises, eliminating active malware and killing malware that launches at startup. But competitors deliver much more.

Pros & Cons

    • In testing, eliminated active malware and malware that launches at startup, as promised.
    • Integrated HelpDesk remote remediation tool.
    • Installs and runs in Safe Mode.
    • Bootable recovery environment available.
    • Free scan available.
    • Certified by one testing lab.
    • Missed many malware samples in tests.
    • Failed to remove executable traces of detected samples.
    • No significant real-time protection.
    • Expensive.

Your everyday antivirus utility scans for malware any time you ask it to, and also chugs along in the background, fending off any new attacks. Most of the time that's exactly what you need, but occasionally you may find that something nasty slips past your protection. Enigma Software's SpyHunter 4 is designed to track down and eliminate such problems. In testing, SpyHunter successfully eliminated active malware, and the included hands-on remote-control remediation proved useful. But it definitely won't replace your existing antivirus, and other cleanup-only tools, even free ones, have proved to be more effective at thoroughly cleaning up malware infestations.

In the problem scenario I just described, you could also get help from Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.0 or any of several free cleanup-only tools. So why would you pay $39.99 for a six-month SpyHunter license? My contact at Enigma software said, "We are more like an online service than just a downloadable utility," and went on to explain that the company's active service through the built-in HelpDesk generates serious customer loyalty, and that the free cleanup tools don't affect their bottom line. I set out to see whether this service would win my loyalty.

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Final Thoughts

Enigma SpyHunter 4 does what it promises, eliminating active malware and killing malware that launches at startup. But competitors deliver much more. - Enigma SpyHunter 4

Enigma SpyHunter 4

3.0 Average

Enigma SpyHunter 4 does what it promises, eliminating active malware and killing malware that launches at startup. But competitors deliver much more.

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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