PestPatrol: Anti-Trojan or Privacy-software ?

[FanJ]

My posting about PestPatrol was moved by Paul from the forum-section "Privacy software" to the forum-section "Other anti-trojan software".

See:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=18982

Reason given by Paul:
"sinc this doesn't belong on Privacy anymore: moved to Other antitrojan software".

It is Paul's board, so I have in principle no problem with that! ;)

But I have a few questions:

Paul says "this doesn't belong on Privacy anymore" (highlighting by me).
Since when, and how could I know that?

I am well aware that PestPatrol is listed at the Wilders-org site on the Anti-Trojan site.

In the past I posted indeed about PP in "Other antitrojan software".
But since some time I changed that to "Privacy software".
Until now that was accepted.
There was a reason why I did that: I myself consider PP more a Privacy-program than an AT.
Once again: I am fully OK if Paul has a different opinion ;)

Nevertheless I would like to start a discussion:
Do you see PestPatrol more as an AT or more as a Privacy program?

This is NOT meant to raise any havoc, just a discussion, if allowed.
Of course: the admins/mods are free to move this to another section.

Regards, Jan.

[Paul Wilders]

No problem, Jan ;)

-{ Quote: "Nevertheless I would like to start a discussion:
Do you see PestPatrol more as an AT or more as a Privacy program?" }-

Looking forward to the discussion ;)

regards.

paul

[LowWaterMark]

Hmm, I don't use PestPatrol so I don't know first hand what it's primary functions are or its area of main focus. I guess the scientific way to figure this out would be to list its primary features and product focus, and then determine if it looks more like an AT product (assuming we all share a standard definition for what an AT product's focus would or should be) or a Privacy tool.

If we use BOClean, Trojan Hunter and TDS as specific examples of what AT products are, and Spybot & Ad-aware as examples of Privacy software, then we ought to be able to determine which of these PestPatrol is more similar to...

Leaving us with the old saying, "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck?" It's probably a duck.

What do you think Jan? Primary features and functions more like which products? (Hmm, I've never even been to their website, let me go take a look at it.)

[FanJ]

Hey guys :D

Thanks for allowing the discussion ;)
Karma's for both the two of you :)

Yep, you're right Paul: this is indeed the right forum-section for it.

[Paul Wilders]

As ever, we are open for a solid discussion, Jan ;)

regards.

paul

[FanJ]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Paul Wilders link=board=9;threadid=18984;start=0#msg116664 date=1073350603]
As ever, we are open for a solid discussion, Jan ;)

regards.

paul
" }-

I know Paul ;)

[the Tester]

Hi FanJ.

My view of Pest Patrol is that it is more a spyware remover type of program.

I see it as a competitor to Spybot, Adaware,etc..rather than TDS-3,the Cleaner, or any of the anti trojan programs.

I never tried the program so I could be wrong.
I did look at the website a long time ago when I was investigating a backup for Spybot S/D.

[FanJ]

Well, to give it a start....

My personal opinion is: it is more a privacy tool.
But I'm well aware that it ain't an easy decision.
And maybe we shouldn't even spend too much time and energy on it, but at the other hand there is more to it in general.

Let's first have a look at some other programs.

Kevin has a while back decided to include some spyware in BOClean, if I understood it right. Look at an example of his update-notifications:
"TEN new nasties today for a total of 2804 UNIQUE trojans (15,402 trojans, rootkits, adware, spyware, keyloggers and other malware in total, including all variants)".

SpySweeper from Webroot:
A little quote from their site:
"the category of spyware (adware, keylogger, Trojan, etc.)".

So, the "boundaries" between spyware and Trojans are getting "thinner".
Something that Kevin has pointed to already.

I guess we all agree that BOClean is an AT.

What would we say about SpySweeper?

Now back to PestPatrol.
It (tries to) detect(s):
spyware;
keyloggers;
programs like NetScanTools and Atelier Web AWSPS (legal programs, but with which you could try to "scan" other machines);
files in which you describe how to make a bomb;
Trojans;
etc.

I tend to think that the majority of those malware at which PestPatrol is aimed, can be more described as some kind of risk to privacy than as Trojan.
But again: I am well aware that some "boundaries" here are getting more "vague".


Well, who's next in the discussion? ;)

[Paul Wilders]

Jan,

-{ Quote: "Well, who's next in the discussion?" }-

Why not invite a PP employee? You do have the contacts ;) - and inviting them seems only fair, wether they show up or not.

regards.

paul

[spy1]

Well, does PP give its' users any kind of a break-down (count) on the numbers of each kind of thing it detects? Anywhere?

Or, does it just lump everything together? Pete

[JimIT]

Interesting discussion!

I must admit, before I knew much about AT's,--not that I do now, mind you ;D--Pest Patrol was what I was leaning toward purchasing as an AT.

The more I read about it, though, the more I felt like it's name was pretty much on target, so I consider it more of a "bilge mop". ;D

And I mean that as a compliment! ;D ;D

[the Tester]

FWIW, somebody views Pest Patrol as an A/T program and recommends it.

Check this out.


http://www.anti-trojan-software-reviews.com

[FanJ]

-{ Quote: " quoting: Paul Wilders link=board=9;threadid=18984;start=0#msg116683 date=1073352938]
Jan,

Why not invite a PP employee? You do have the contacts ;) - and inviting them seems only fair, wether they show up or not.

regards.

paul
" }-

Done Paul ;)

Cheers, Jan.

[LowWaterMark]

Hmm, that's a great idea. Let's see what PestPatrol thinks is their role in the PC software world.

Nice job Paul and Jan! :)

(Of course, they may not show up, but still it's good to ask them. ;) )

[FanJ]

I'll give a screenshot of the PestPatrol-window where you tell it what to search for.
Sorry: it is a big screenshot.

[JayK]

It seems to me they aim at everything. What they excel at in the end, is another matter of course.

[yokenny]

Another discussion:
http://www.spywareinfoforum.com/index.php?showtopic=21775