I’m not sure how AVAST Pro is handling spyware. I’d been running AVAST Home for
a couple of years. Used an on-line recommended service to check for spyware, it said I had some. Couldn’t fix without buying that product. Figured I’d rather pay for AVAST, since it said it checks spyware. Paid for and Installed Pro, ran a check of whole system, no spyware. Nothing in the menus allows checking for spyware. ???
No, you haven’t to pay for avast to get the infection cleaned.
Be warned that a lot of fake programs say you’re infected (when you’re not) just to sell their products.
I suggest a full computer on-line scanning for free…
Kaspersky (very good detection rates)
ESET NOD32
Trendmicro housecall
F-Secure
BitDefender
I’m intrigued. Is there someone somewhere implying or saying explicitly that avast! Professional is superior to avast! Home in detection and/or removal of spyware?
If so, this is a hoax, or FUD, or a lie 
I’m not seeing any evidence of it handling spyware either, and nothing comes up when I search the help utility for “spyware.”
I’m wondering if I should get a separate anti-spyware program after all. (I wasn’t going to.)
avast antispyware protection is handled by the same modules of the antivirus.
In fact, avast is nowadays an antimalware defense.
You don’t need a separate antispyware protection, but as none program is perfect all the time, you can check from time to time your computer with MBAM or SuperAntispyware just on-demand (not residents).