AntiSpyware test by PC World

[kareldjag]

Hi,

An interesting test by PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,00.asp

Regards

[Jimbob1989]

*Reads PC World* :-\ PC World, not a great reputation. Don't know what the quality would be like.

Jimbob

[LockBox]

The results in chart form are here:
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,pg,2,00.asp

[LockBox]

Can this be moved to Privacy Software? It's a very detailed test by PC WORLD for their April 2005 issue and would be seen and commented on by a lot more people.

[hollywoodpc]

-{ Quote: "*Reads PC World* :-\ PC World, not a great reputation. Don't know what the quality would be like.

Jimbob" }-
Glad you know the deal . My understanding was that PCWorld is a good mag to look at but , PC Mag is bad . I read both and can tell you that I would take each of their reviews with a grain of salt but , for me , there is no doubt that PC World is more trustworthy . Interesting results there too . Thanks for the post Kareldjag .

[hollywoodpc]

-{ Quote: "Hi,

An interesting test by PC World:

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,00.asp

Regards" }-
It shows what I have felt for a long time now . I HATE MS but , this is a good one . remember though . MS has yet to modify it too much . If and when they do , it will turn to crap like all there other stuff . I mean hey . They have been in this business forever and STILL cannot secure ANYTHING . That being the case , how can their AS be any good ? The answer : It is Giant . Little modification by MS as of now .

[Mele20]

So CounterSpy appears to be the best and Microsoft is providing the definitions through July 2007. Considering what changes MS may make to their own anti-spyware program that may muck it up, looks like Counterspy is the way to go.

[Shae]

Hi guys. :)

I came across this article in PC World about how effective the different spyware/adware removers are.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,pg,1,00.asp

Only downside, is they didn't say a word about SpywareBlaster or SpywareGuard.. ::)

{Edit - BlueZannetti 3/6/05 - Just wanted to point out that I merged this from a different thread since part of the content may seem a touch out of place with respect to timing. Comments regarding SpywareBlaster or SpywareGuard are relevant though}

[siliconman01]

-{ Quote: "So CounterSpy appears to be the best and Microsoft is providing the definitions through July 2007. Considering what changes MS may make to their own anti-spyware program that may muck it up, looks like Counterspy is the way to go." }-

From the PC World article, it would seem so. HOWEVER, watch out for Spy Sweeper. Webroot has added 21737 spyware traces since 1-Jan-05. That's an impressive rate of updates and appears to substantiate their claim that they Phileas project is detecting 300+ new items daily. Granted, quantity does not signify quality...or does it in this never ending race for protection.

It'll be interesting to see where the comparison test result fall out in the next 3-6 months. ;)

[no13]

From www.sunbelt.com/product.cfm?id=410-{ Quote: "CounterSpy received the "PC World Best Buy Award" in the April 2005 Issue: "CounterSpy the highest detection rate in our tests. The most effective scanner--CounterSpy--was also the fastest, taking only a minute to perform a complete scan of a system with 2.7GB of data. Sunbelt Software's CounterSpy proved the most capable of the bunch, finding and stopping 93 percent of all the running processes created by our 45 test programs." }-Great... APRIL?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

SO.. err.. umm...
What is this? A mistake in Time management?

[JerryM]

What about Spyware Doctor?
Jerry

[controler]

I would have liked to see Spycatcher in the test also.
I run Spysweeper on my desktop and Spycatcher on my laptop. Actualy I paid the extra 20 bucks and got GhostSurf Pro Privacy Suite which includes a heck of alot of protection, plus proxie.
I like the Phishing protection, and the reinstall shield in Spycatcher. The reinstall shield write 0's to the deleted spyware so it can't run, then lock the file
so the spyware cn not silently reinstall itself ;D
I like Spycathers Host Analyzer, which Spysweeper also has.
I like Spycatchers Protector and detective also.

Bruce

[controler]

Siliconman

Spysweeper is now being advertised on TV.
I don't think you could go wrong with it.
One thing I noticed about Spycathers Phishing guard is there are not many enteries. Not like the free Phishguard I use with Spysweeper.
WHich is all it does. It blocks hostile sites that may be trying to Phish you.

Bruce

[controler]

One last note about Spycatcher.

it detects all files that try to connect to the internet behind your back. Even those used by other ligit security software of which I won't name here.
I like that feature alot :)


Bruce

[Lurkerella]

Strange timing, indeed, a year ago?

They also seem to be offering the 'defining' definitions of Adware and Spyware, with or without a EULA users understand.

Something about that whole article doesn't set right with me, I will be checking alot of what they say and HOW they say it.

What bothers me is, the numbers of people who will scan, peruse, 'kinda' read it, then accept the article's opinions as their own, BELIEVING this article is the last word!

Articles like this, I think, will become more numerous, more persuasive, more blatant, there needs to be a balance - a strong voice of balance or these biased opinions will be quoted as the voices of 'some kind of security' bible.'

If people who work, devise ideas, build programs, help the community learn and share what is proven and tried, don't speak up - ?


We all will be the losers in this spyware, adware, malware game.

Just my opinion and observation.

[iwod]

-{ Quote: "From www.sunbelt.com/product.cfm?id=410Great... APRIL?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

SO.. err.. umm...
What is this? A mistake in Time management?" }-

LOL.... no13 you don't seems to read a lot of magazine....... ;D

They put out April issues in March and May issues in April..........

[iwod]

I forgot to mention... they tested Spysweeper 3.2

And the current version is 3.5.......

[JerryM]

I was considering buying Spy Sweeper from an ebay seller. However, as I read the Webroot site, unless you buy it from Webroot you do not get updates. The ones on ebbay are usually v 3.2.

Anyone with any information on this?

Jerry

[azumi21]

-{ Quote: "I was considering buying Spy Sweeper from an ebay seller. However, as I read the Webroot site, unless you buy it from Webroot you do not get updates. The ones on ebbay are usually v 3.2.

Anyone with any information on this?

Jerry" }-

i got one off ebay (only $9.95) and it upgraded to 3.5 - no problems.
updates for a year. make sure you buy from a reputable seller, ask if
it upgrades to 3.5 before you bid.

[JerryM]

Azumi,
Thanks, that is good to know.

Jerry

[LockBox]

Newegg.com has Spy Sweeper for $19.99 as a download.....it updates fine.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=1300105SF&depa=0

[Infinity]

true, but I believe you have to live in the usa for purchasing it...

Boclean sell there for only 22$ so it would be nice too :)

if not I would purchase it immediately.

[flinchlock]

-{ Quote: "Newegg.com has Spy Sweeper for $19.99 as a download.....it updates fine.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=1300105SF&depa=0" }-OR, just go to the Webroot site 2YRS for $39.95 (http://www.webroot.com/products/spysweeper/subscriberedition) for 2 years ;D (That is $19.975/year)

Mike

[JerryM]

-{ Quote: "OR, just go to the Webroot site 2YRS for $39.95 (http://www.webroot.com/products/spysweeper/subscriberedition) for 2 years ;D (That is $19.975/year)

Mike" }-

That looks like as good as any, and better than most. I am trying it out now, and if it as good as they say, I will go for it. I want to see if it finds anything after my other anti spyware programs scan.

Jerry

[flinchlock]

The more I read about CounterSpy (http://www.sunbelt-software.com/product.cfm?id=410) and Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) and Spy Sweeper (http://webroot.com/products/spysweeper/) the more confused I get ???

If CounterSpy almost = Microsoft AntiSpyware, and Microsoft AntiSpyware is free, why BUY CounterSpy ???

But, since Eric Howes (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm) says... -{ Quote: "Full disclosure: since late November 2004 I have performed part-time consulting work as an independent contractor for Sunbelt Software, makers of CounterSpy. Because of that relationship and the conflict of interest that it represents, I must recuse myself from public comment on CounterSpy. That means that I cannot and will not publicly evaluate, test, or even recommend Sunbelt's anti-spyware product. The anti-spyware products that I do recommend, all of which are competitors to CounterSpy, are included above. Moreover, the opinions, judgments, and conclusions found on these pages are mine alone." }-CounterSpy is/will be the better way to go (because of Eric).

But, Spy Sweeper (http://webroot.com/company/) has Phileas... -{ Quote: "The ability of an anti-spyware vendor to identify new spyware and build definitions to block or remove it from customers’ machines is fundamental to the effectiveness of their tool. Webroot recently introduced the anti-spyware industry's first automated spyware research system designed specifically to discover and identify spyware anywhere on the Web. The system, called Phileas, is capable of intelligently scanning thousands of sites per second to identify and report new threats. With Phileas, Webroot has defined the next phase in spyware research. By automating spyware research, Webroot is able to find spyware as soon as it is released and deploy protection before customers are able to unwittingly infect their PC." }-Spy Sweeper is/will be the better way to go.

I'm so confused :o ??? :-\

Mike

[Peter2150]

Easy solution. Run both. I run Giant AS and Spysweeper. When my Giant runs out I will consider Counterspy. I just don't trust M$ for security stuff.

[flinchlock]

-{ Quote: "I just don't trust M$ for security stuff." }-You know, that is also always in the back of my mind. Let me see, use a M$ product to protect a M$ product that needs to be re-engineered to prevent the problems in the first place... Sleeping with the enemy (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102945/) ::) :o :-[ >:( :( :'( :-\

Mike

[Firecat]

Well, nobody knows Windows(R) OS better than MS....

[flinchlock]

-{ Quote: "Well, nobody knows Windows(R) OS better than MS...." }-Oh, come on now...hackers know a sheet lot more than M$!!

Mike

[Firecat]

-{ Quote: "Oh, come on now...hackers know a sheet lot more than M$!!

Mike" }-
EEKS! I forgot about them....MS AntiSpyware will also have umpteen exploits and patches I guess?

[flinchlock]

-{ Quote: "EEKS! I forgot about them....MS AntiSpyware will also have umpteen exploits and patches I guess?" }-Hey, aren't you on the West Cost... isn't 3:53am a little early for you to be up... what's your parents Email addy's? ::) ;D

Mike

[Firecat]

-{ Quote: "Hey, aren't you on the West Cost... isn't 3:53am a little early for you to be up... what's your parents Email addy's? ::) ;D

Mike" }-
Nope...I am in Asia....time's about 5:25 PM (Wednesday) right now....:)

[controler]

I use Spysweeper and SpyCathcer

besides the link to SpySweepers article, here is the one on SpyCatcher.

SpySweeper

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Phileas-Project-Uses-Bots-To-Ferret-Out-Spyware-40799.html

SpyCatcher

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/40987.html

Either is better then Giants as far as I an concerned.

Bruce

[no13]

SpySubtract is also a good option. They're the proud owners of CoolWebShredder 2.0

[Infinity]

they are the proud buyers of Coolwebshredder...:)

[no13]

-{ Quote: "they are the proud buyers of Coolwebshredder...:)" }-
yes. Pardon me for that.
BUT...
they're the ones developing it further now, yeah??