Everybody who closely monitors the free anti spyware software market knows that there's a huge disproportion in demand and offer, the former being many times greater than the available anti spyware programs. Millions of people search for free anti spyware programs without knowing that there are less than a dozen of such applications.

How can it be?

To begin answering this rather complicated question I must disclose a closely guarded secret: the term "free anti spyware software" is rather a misleading marketing trick than a set of existing anti spyware programs.

In fact, it's easier to find a full-featured antivirus than a free anti spyware software bundled with same functions as paid versions. I believe this situation originates from the times when all threats (very few in number) coming from the Web were referred to as "viruses". There was no spam, spyware, Trojans or worms. Those old day computer viruses were supposed to be detected by antivirus programs. Because new viruses used to appear slowly, antivirus software companies had the time to analyze them and develop the necessary protection algorithm to include later in definitions update.

Antivirus programs have a much longer history than anti spyware software, and that's why manufacturers had the time to develop free versions of their security programs to be able to appeal to even greater audience.

With anti spyware software, it's way different. The danger imposed by spyware has been increasing over the last few years at unprecedented pace. The consequences of spyware infections are well-known and dreading; identity theft, stolen passwords, phishing, scam extortion. Nowadays those viruses from the beginning of Internet era look harmless like toddlers. Modern spyware, compared to viruses, is an atomic bomb. It simply devastates computers, making owners to reinstall and reformat. 

Hence the number of anti spyware products available on the market, and still growing at incredible pace. Because the threat of spyware is widely known and well-researched, manufacturers of protection software feel the demand for their products and express no intention in making them freeware. Consequently, no company is really interested in offering free anti spyware software. 

However, to say a word of defense of software manufacturers; developing, maintaining and supporting effective anti spyware software involves huge costs. Because of pervasive nature of spyware and lightning-fast mutations modern malware undergoes, software companies have to employ hi-skilled programmers, IT experts, analysts, who work in shifts 24/7 to provide frequent (daily or even hourly) updates to client anti spyware software. 

Bearing in mind the complications involved in the process of creating a new anti spyware, it's clear that pure enthusiasm is not enough. This is a business just like Microsoft's or Adobe's.

However, several young companies felt it necessary to fill in the lacuna disregarded by industry leaders. So, Malwarebyte's Anti-malware, a-squared anti-malware and SUPERAntiSpyware offer free versions of their commercial anti spyware products, but each of the free applications misses automatic updates and resident protection. But free anti spyware software is not meant to replace the full-featured applications. Their main goal is to provide tools to remove the malware infections. For many PC users struggling to clean out their computers such free anti spyware software is a godsend malware removal. Besides, the free anti spyware software named above use same scanning engine and detection mechanism as their elder, paid brothers.

Next: Free Anti Spyware Programs