PC Tools - Spyware Doctor

[Diff]

Is this a recommended program? Must you purchase/register for it to get rid of the threats it finds?

Is there another like-program this is just as good or better that requires you not to register/purchase it to use effectively?

Thanks!

[awaj]

Spybot- search and destroy. It's found here (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html). That's free. there are a couple others, but that's the most popular from what I've seen and used.

[mjc]

Yeah, PC Tool's Spyware Doctor is 'legit'.

Yeah, it is a paid for program, but the $30 price covers 3 machines.

Yeah, it does a decent job.

But...they've recently been bought out by Symantec...so, the question is, given Symantec's previous history, if you buy it, will it actually last, as a truly independent program for the year's worth of support you've paid for...(yeah, Symantec says it's going to stay independent...).

It's probably one of the better, if not the best, pay for ones around.

But there are free solutions that do the job...like mentioned above.

Trial Limitations: The trial offers time unlimited real-time protection (free spyware blocking), but does not remove threats detected during on-demand scans, updates may also differ to those supplied to registered users.

No, the trial doesn't actually remove what it finds.

That is one of the things that separates the legit from the shady...the legit programs will tell you that bit of info upfront. The shady ones won't tell you they won't remove anything without paying until after the scan is complete.l

[123456]

Also, the legit ones tend to have their own GUI...

[Diff]

As always, great feedback!

~ Thanks ~

[Budfred]

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Here (http://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe) or Here (http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html) is one of the best for general cleaning at this point, but it is quite powerful and I would use it when you suspect a problem, rather than in resident mode...

[Sylvander]

I notice the 1st of those links offers version 1.27.0.0 whereas the 2nd offers 1.28.0.0

Would I be OK to install it alongside various other programs like Avira, Spybot, A-squared, Trojan Hunter, Threatfire, SG, HJT?

Or should I replace some with this?

[Budfred]

As long as you don't use the resident modes, you can install dozens of different security programs and run them when you want... MBAM does have an update feature, so it is a good idea to run the update when you download it and whenever you want to use it to make sure you have the latest version... It does have an option to purchase a "Pro" version and you can run it as a resident antispyware, but it isn't necessary to do that and it is powerful enough that I would be reluctant to do that...

Since HJT doesn't have a resident option, it can be run along with any other programs... However, most of its functions need to be used with caution by people who are not able to read the results since it was developed as a tool to help trained helpers to help people remotely...

[Sylvander]

First impressions are good.

Like the way it displays and functions. :cool:

First quick scan took 5 minutes at pronounced my PC free of malware. :)