New Australian company PC Tools has added a spyware removal tool to its collection of programs designed to boost security and performance for Windows PCs.

The 2473KB Spyware Doctor can be downloaded from the Internet. It detects and removes spyware, adware, malware, trojans, keyloggers and trackware from PCs running Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP or 2003.

"The product differs from free spyware programs in that it offers on-guard protection, which continually monitors your PC for spyware attacks whenever you are connected to the internet," said PC Tools spokesperson Magida Ezzat.

Some freeware programs do not scan your PC on boot up, you have to do a manual scan, whereas Spyware Doctor scans your PC each time you boot up, Ezzat said.

PC Tools, which was formed in February last year, claims the program is extremely popular, with more than 200,000 downloads a week. In addition to its existing antispyware, antispam, privacy protection and registry cleaning programs, the company will soon release personal firewall software which has been in development for the past 18 months.

Spyware Doctor retails at US$39.95 and a free trial version is available. For more information go to www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor.