ShadowUser pros/cons?

Sorry if some of this could be answered by searching, I need to get back into a topic before I get good at searching for things, so bear with me until I've gathered enough info to be searching properly.

When I have had my system boxed up tightly with security software before, I was finding I was spending more time allowing my system to do what it wanted than I was actually being defended against malware. System slowdowns were also a pain. So given that I don't run into malware that often, something that's efficient and transparent is a better option for me.

ShadowUser seems pretty foolproof. I got the ShadowSurfer license when it was free, but since it only works on a per partition basis (and I think I lost the license key anyway), and I have found multi partitions to be problematic with Vista. Since certain directories can be shadowed, I figured I could have my whole system shadowed, except for my user directory. I write documents, and I download videos, so having to reboot before doing that would be a pain. I sometimes go on program installation sprees, so during those SU wouldn't be useful since I'd have to turn it off.

Also, the big issue that SU doesn't cover is identity protection. I do online purchases, I use my Credit Card online, so spyware that gets on in the time between reboots (sometimes that's quite long) would be able to gather information from me and could still pose problems.

If I use ShadowUser, what would I have to combine it with to protect my financial information (that's my only major concern, aside from worrying about reinstalling my system too often after it has been hosed).

 

masqueofhastur,
You need softwares that stop the execution of malware :
1. Anti-Executable, userfriendly but trial it because it could be a pain for you.
2. System Safety Monitor
3. ... any similar software.

ShadowUser also recommends to separate your data files from system files :
1. System Partition = Windows + ShadowUser + Applications
2. Data Partition = all your personal files, emails, ...

 

What are examples of Anti Executable programs so I can do proper searching?
Is System Safety Monitor a program name or a type of program? I've seen it mentioned before but couldn't really figure it out as it seems mentioning it is self understood.

Having multiple partitions is quite a pain, I've run into a number of problems with it, so I would prefer a solution that doesn't rely on that.

 

Anti-Executable Standard
http://www.faronics.com/html/product.asp
Read the manual first, because this is a very unusual software otherwise you won't be able to work with it.

System Safety Monitor
http://www.syssafety.com/
freeware version or paid version

If you do it right ShadowUser will clean your computer after each reboot, but you will need security softwares to prevent the execution of malware during the period between two reboots.

Watch your post for awhile you might get other good advices.