We actually used PestPatrol's command line version to test for spyware on our readers' machines, because PestPatrol let us automate scanning and disinfection.

PestPatrol searched for and found a large variety of what it calls pests, including cookies, spyware, Trojans, and key loggers, but it found only half of our target spyware. In addition, PestPatrol took action on only about 70 percent of the identified target pests, because the tested version can't directly disable the folders and Registry entries installed by some spyware (according to the company, Version 5 will be able to do this). All it can do is recommend deleting them.

Finally, after we rebooted, Norton AntiVirus's ccEmailProxy, a resident e-mail monitor, failed at start-up. The PestPatrol staff had no explanations and suggested we wait to test the next version, but our deadlines made this impossible.

We hope to reexamine PestPatrol in the future, but for now we can't recommend it.