Does avast pick up spyware?
???
The general answer is no.
smokeyjoe
If you want to remove Syware, use Adaware:
http://www.mywebattack.com/a/php/dlfile.php?i=100156&a=7117402
I hope this helps. 
The two best products i’ve ever seen for Spyware are Pest Patrol and Spysweeper…
and
http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php
Pest Patrol is better than almost any AV product for detecting trojans, and has deep keylogger/dialer/malware/spyware detections with 125,000 definitions and the largest research lab of its type on the planet.
Spysweeper has great shields, and overall top end spyware detection, with 26,000+ in its database and works amazingly well. Both of these applications will far outstrip the abilities of Adaware or Spybot. Give them a try and see what I mean.
I use Pest Patrol monitors, and spysweeper to sweep about once a week, or sometimes once a month incase something passes Pest Patrols monitors (which is rare).
Yeah avast! sometimes picks spyware files,but its main job are viruses/worms and trojans. Use specialized anti-spyware utilities mentioned above or free Ad-aware 6 or SpyBot 1.3.
The problem with PestPatrol is that often it doesn’t pick up spyware, just files or folders it thinks are spyware. An example of this is Shareaza which contains no spyware but PestPatrol said it did, as Pest Patrol also said that Kazaa Lite contained spyware.
That’s one of the problems with PestPatrol. It finds more than it’s supposed to.
You as the user have to know whatis and what’s not spy ware.
That’s not always easy. That’s one of the reasons you rely on such a program.
Pest Patrol is a good program but, it can be dangerous in the wrong hands…
That’s the reason for the 125,000 definitions or not?
I mean, false positives is due to the high detection definitions or, on contrary, the software is the best on detection? :
No Technical it’s an excellent program But, you have to be careful. You can’t assume that every thing it finds is actual spy ware.
Both Adaware and Spybot are great when it comes to finding spyware. There is also a free program called Spywareblaster which also works good at preventing spyware and other nasties from being installed on your computer in the first place.
Correct, Pest Patrol is incredible at generic detection and heuristics… On that Neowin test, Pest Patrol scored 591 positives with pure heuristics for the most part. However, this can lead to false positives, which is fine, just tap the “Exclude this item” button and that particular issue is gone forever.
You just need to know you dont slap delete on everything, and you’ll be fine… Personally, I love products with that level of detection, because i’d like to know anything and everything that could remotely be malicious, and I know what to delete or not to delete.
Same thing is with Spybot and Ad-Aware… Bob, do not think that everything that Ad-Aware shows you MUST be spyware… I know, few clients who erased everything Ad-Aware reported, and they had very serious problems with Windows registry… You must know what are you doing, no matter what program you use… it’s always better to check twice, than sorry…
just to say something about pest patrol is that when i tried it has options that you either turn off or on for example you can have on or off with file sharing programs(shareeza,winmx,etc.)thats why it picks up the file sharing programs not because they are spyware and it has options for other things like keygens and other things,just thought i would mention it,bri
I still suggest you make individual backups of each infected item that you suspect could be either a false positive or an important system file (or registry key). Take care: quarentine and chest before is too late 
smokeyjoe,
What it boils down to is personal preference for a program that is designed to detect spyware. Sort of like the difference between Fords, or Chevys. “Different strokes for Different folks”. This is for either freeware programs or paid for programs.
Hi all, Does Pestpartrol has a free version for personal use?
I’m not sure but browsing their site I cannot found any…
I think there isn’t a free personal use version 
Sasha the main difference between Pest patrol and the other programs you mentioned is this:
Pest patrol: once you select delete, kiss the files bye bye.
Other programs: last delete operation is always reversable.
So, Pest patrol requires extra precautions.
I always do a restore point prior to any serious system changes.
watchthisspace,
No free versions of Pest Patrol as far as I have ever seen here in the U.S. Generally costs $39.95 USD for 1 year of coverage then you have to renew it again at the end of that 1 year.
HTH
Damm, The only was I could get pest patrol is to by it online but I dont have a credit card (I’m too young and couldn’t afford 1 )