Spyware Doctor SE with Antivirus 5.5 released

[Victek123]

I haven't installed this one yet to confirm, but apparently it has an antivirus engine along with the real time antispyware protection. The "Starter Edition" is free as well.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloa...ctor-antivirus

[Macstorm]

Yes they have two free versions, with and without AV.

The 'Starter Edition' sounds like a promoting tool for their commercial versions:

Move to the regular commercial edition of PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus and you'll gain an extensive range of real-time protection features. Like Browser Guard, which prevents malware from changing your favourites, toolbars, add-ons and more. Network Guard stops threats from hijacking your network connection, Process Guard blocks malicious hidden processes like rootkits, and Cookie Guard deletes tracking cookies automatically. Subscription prices start at £39.95 but, as a Starter Edition user, you can upgrade and save 30% from the standard retail price. Either upgrade within the software or, if you do not want to install the Starter Edition, simply click here to the upgrade page directly to purchase at 30% off the retail price.

[RejZoR]

Spyware Doctor Starter Edition 5.0 had crippled signature database, yet none ever mentioned that anywhere... it's probably the same with 5.5...

[Makav3l1]

Are both 5.5 free versions crippled? Anyone know for sure?

[Fly]

Originally Posted by Victek123

I haven't installed this one yet to confirm, but apparently it has an antivirus engine along with the real time antispyware protection. The "Starter Edition" is free as well.

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloa...ctor-antivirus

Unless it has changed, the 'Starter Edition' has only a fraction of the total signatures of the real commercial program.

Is anyone aware of what happened since Pcfools (sorry, Pctools) released that infection called Spyware Doctor version 5.x ?

The first release (which seemed like an extremely bad beta) was really the worst program I've ever had on my computer. In the end, I had to resort to reformatting my harddrive.

After that, there came some some chances, sometimes improvements, sometimes it got a lot worse, sometimes pieces (maybe site guard, cookie guard?) were removed.

And they have their auto-renewal policy.

I've decided to NEVER buy anything from them again. I just don't trust them.

Bad business ethics.

Why buy anything from Pctools, when there are more reputable vendors ?

[Makav3l1]

So are the new versions still crippled or not?

[EliteKiller]

Originally Posted by Makav3l1

So are the new versions still crippled or not?

Yes, the 'started edition" is gimped.

http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51128

[Wordward]

Just tried it. Installs fine. Runs light. Has over 200,000 Intelli Signatures which about half of the Full Version. Updates are automatic. All in all a nice program, but since it still doesn't have SD's full signature base, I will add that it uninstalls fine too.

[Victek123]

Originally Posted by Wordward

Just tried it. Installs fine. Runs light. Has over 200,000 Intelli Signatures which about half of the Full Version. Updates are automatic. All in all a nice program, but since it still doesn't have SD's full signature base, I will add that it uninstalls fine too.

This is an unacceptable way to differentiate a free Vs paid product IMHO. They have already significantly reduced the effectiveness of the real time shield which I feel is an acceptable strategy, but weakening the "On Demand" scanner by limiting the database makes the product untrustworthy.

[Wordward]

Originally Posted by Victek123

This is an unacceptable way to differentiate a free Vs paid product IMHO. They have already significantly reduced the effectiveness of the real time shield which I feel is an acceptable strategy, but weakening the "On Demand" scanner by limiting the database makes the product untrustworthy.

Couldn't agree more and it's ashame because it does run well. I imagine the same thing goes for SDSE with Antivirus. a-squared, SAS, and others offer limited but effective free versions. I wonder what would happen if someone got infected because only half the signatures were installed? Think they would use the product after that? I don't understand their thinking here. They offer a free firewall. One of the best Behavior Blockers in Threatfire. A free AV that I have used (of course. LOL.) and liked, with all the signatures. And yet SDSE only has half of what the full version does. Crazy huh?

[EliteKiller]

Originally Posted by Wordward

Just tried it. Installs fine. Runs light. Has over 200,000 Intelli Signatures which about half of the Full Version. Updates are automatic. All in all a nice program, but since it still doesn't have SD's full signature base, I will add that it uninstalls fine too.

The full version contains over 660K, so the starter edition has roughly 1/3 (33%) of the signatures found in the full version.

[Wordward]

Then that makes it even worse. LOL. Thanks for the info. I do wonder if the signatures SDSE has are more recent ones though?

[solcroft]

Originally Posted by Victek123

This is an unacceptable way to differentiate a free Vs paid product IMHO. They have already significantly reduced the effectiveness of the real time shield which I feel is an acceptable strategy, but weakening the "On Demand" scanner by limiting the database makes the product untrustworthy.

Then I suggest you demand a refund.

[Wordward]

Originally Posted by solcroft

Then I suggest you demand a refund.

Ho lord that was funny. The old get it free but demands a refund joke always gets me. LOL. The point is that why cripple a freeware even more with the lack of signatures that perhaps could find something on someones PC and then make them want to "buy" the product.

[lucas1985]

Originally Posted by Wordward

And yet SDSE only has half of what the full version does. Crazy huh?

Spyware Doctor is the golden goose of PC Tools. It has enough publicity/marketing and mindshare (magazine ads, boxes in brick and mortar stores, online ads, etc) that the free version will bring little extra revenues.

[Wordward]

Originally Posted by lucas1985

Spyware Doctor is the golden goose of PC Tools. It has enough publicity/marketing and mindshare (magazine ads, boxes in brick and mortar stores, online ads, etc) that the free version will bring little extra revenues.

All the more reason then. For the Starter Edition to have all the signatures.

[lucas1985]

The free version doesn't do marketing work. They don't need nor want a superb freebie of their golden goose app.

[Wordward]

Originally Posted by lucas1985

The free version doesn't do marketing work. They don't need nor want a superb freebie of their golden goose app.

Fine. But then why have a freebie at all, and if it doesn't matter, then why not the full signstures?





?

[EliteKiller]

Originally Posted by Wordward

Fine. But then why have a freebie at all, and if it doesn't matter, then why not the full signstures?





?

Exactly.

Starter Edition: The Starter Edition offers full scan and removal of threats, and basic real-time protection, is available for free as part of the Google Pack.

PCTools should also make it clear that when you first download the Starter Edition it will only contain 1/3 of the signatures found in the pay version. Instead they are being sneaky about it by only listing those limitations in their forum. In any event PCTools should be ashamed of themselves. I have no idea why anyone would use the gimped free version. The sad thing is the bloated pay version isn't much better. While they were once a top tier anti-spyware utility they've gone downhill just like Spy Sweeper and Ad-Aware.

[Macstorm]

Originally Posted by EliteKiller

PCTools should be ashamed of themselves. I have no idea why anyone would use the gimped free version. The sad thing is the bloated pay version isn't much better.

They don't even know what shame is, according to their policy

[lucas1985]

See it as a trial of the full software.

[Fly]

Originally Posted by EliteKiller

The full version contains over 660K, so the starter edition has roughly 1/3 (33%) of the signatures found in the full version.

660k ?

Don't think those numbers mean much. Someone once explained it to me, but I don't remember it very well

I think the Spy Sweeper (version without antivirus!) has about 230k. It's a good product (as long as you don't need customer support), but not perfect.

If I recall correctly, Sunbelt once told me that Counterspy (good customer support!) has/had over 2 million signatures.

And these products do not include full antivirus protection, go figure.

[EliteKiller]

Originally Posted by lucas1985

See it as a trial of the full software.

If that's the case then why not trial the full version? Granted it will not allow you to remove any detections unless you pay for it, but at least it has a full set of signatures.

[Victek123]

Originally Posted by solcroft

Then I suggest you demand a refund.

Yeah, good one, but I will give you a serious answer too. I don't feel entitled to make any demands on PC Tools to change the product, but I think freeware needs to be criticized when appropriate just like payware. Most of AS vendors who offer free versions of their full products differentiate them in a way that doesn't make the On Demand scanning engine less capable of detecting threats.

[lucas1985]

Originally Posted by EliteKiller

Granted it will not allow you to remove any detections unless you pay for it

To remove infections without paying in advance.