Anti-spyware Tests (Round 1)

Thank You Eric

 

Very nice Eric, well put together...

Cheers

 

Thanks Eric!

 

Sorry this may not be the right thread. I dont know how to contact Eric Howes.
While trolling for registry utilities I noticed a programme "Registry Restore" given a 5 Shield rating from BrotherSoft. It is on the Maxion Software page http://www.maxionsoftware.com/ This is the home of SPyKiller which is on E.Howes' rogue list. I am not sure if this has any significance but might be worth an eyeballing by someone who knows what they are doing. If this is a potential problem what does it suggest for BrotherSoft's ratings?

 

thank you Eric--nice link,going to read all of it this afternoon after work--bookmarked it-have a nice day
rita

 

Thanks Hayc for the post and to Eric on the tests.

Looks like I shall be re-evaulating my 'spyware' proggies after that test.

As I type, am downloading Giant to have a play with.
Nice detection rate, and with 0 FPs an added bonus.

Shall see what I come up with.

Cheers, TAS

 

hi tazz, can you tell me then how much they update a week?or two weeks? how many sigs?? thanx

 

Look at the Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware link in my sig. You'll find his email address on that page.

I bought that program some time ago. Didn't know any better.
Follow the advice on his webpage, as he's a specialist when it comes to anti-spyware programs. BrotherSoft surely didn't do their research, otherwise they would have never listed a rogue one.

Thanks hayc59 for that overview and many thanks to Eric for his everlasting battle against this junk. Looking forward to the rest.

 

Hi Infinity.... mate, like you I have no idea.

I have only heard about them, and never tried before.

Now, speaking of trying, when I posted above I was in another TAB and had left the Giant TAB thinking it was about to download after I clicked 'Submit'. But, when I went back to then proceed, it was a no go.

You have to fill in email, etc and then submit for 'instructions on downloading and installing'... however I got an error. I thought it was due to Firefox, so I opened IE and tried in there... same thing...

Can anybody else try, see what happens.. it looks like a server error from their end, unless my settings are too restrictive, but I doubt it, as both browsers would not allow, and got no warning popups.

See pic for what I get in both FF and IE.

Cheers, TAS

 

Hi tazz, you definately need that proggie, cause this error you are getting is because of a lsp hijack...you have spyware brrrrr....

just kiddin, this evening will try it.

cheers

 

ROFL.... yeah.. ouch.. ya got me...

All right, I have just sent an email to the Giant company, and we shall see what sort of response I get.

I outlined the problems, what the forum is all about, and the potential for orders if this lives up to expectations like I think it could.

And... lol... also pointed to this thread, who knows, we may have another vendor frequenting.

Cheers, TAS

 

Hmmm, I went to the Giant website here, to get the trial version (not full one), entered my email address and other info, hit download, and the trial app started downloading (~5.8 MB) fine. I use FF PR 1.0. Did you try to go for the full version TD?

Blue

 

HI blue.. well, if it worked for you in FF just now, then it has to be problem my end. Dang.

I just tried right now after seeing your post and still same error...

Did you get any email reply with instructions in it?

TAS

edit: Yep, same site.. I even clicked on your link and tried.

 

ahhhaa..hhaaaaa..... I solved it... ROFL.. guess what it was... and nothing to do with me.

It was the country field... I had a brain wave, left the USA in there instead of Australia like I was trying, and it's now downloading fine... can you believe that..

TAS [happy camper]

 

Regarding Longboard's question about Registry Restore. If you look at a screenshot of Registry Restore given in Longboard's link, it looks remarkably similar to Registry Mechanic, in fact, more or less identical. Longboard's link is http://www.maxionsoftware.com/ Details of Registry Mechanic from here http://www.winguides.com/regmech/?ref=Googlerco

Registry Mechanic, as you all know, is a well known legitimate application. I wonder if they are aware of Registry Restore.

 

I'm a registered user of Registry Mechanic, but I would never purchase it at MaxionSoftware. Is it the same app or not?

 

Eldar.

I've sent an e-mail to Registry Mechanic support advising them of this other programme. I am sure they must be aware of it. I'll post back if I receive a reply.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Thank You Eric Howes.

 

Yes, thank you, Eric Howes. I think your contributions are outstanding.

 

The Giant Antispyware™ software has some interesting new concepts as it can "phone home" with spyware information found on your computer to update their server database for redistribution of new definitions. This behaviour is only if one opts-in to be a part of their "anti-spyware community". It is possible to use the software and opt-out of the SpyNet participation.

Please do not take this as casting aspersions on the software or the company. Please read this page at the Giant web site and review the details. On the surface the company seems very out front and on the up and up. After reading the details of the SpyNet they still seem on the up and up and generously give details of just what information is collected and what is not. Some computer LANs like ours here need to be absolutely secure so we cannot participate but perhaps some of you will elect to try the new software.

Best wishes and please post in a new topic if you have tried this software and your impressions.

 

same here
Rita

 

Spybot has performed quite poorly in the test. In my experience most people who have Spybot also have SpywareBlaster and these two programmes have grown up together. My question is this. Would the results of the test be different if SpywareBlaster was installed on the test computer? ie. if the team at Spybot know that particular malware will be blocked by SpywareBlaster, they have maybe concentrated their efforts elsewhere. (Apologies if this seems to be a daft question as I don't know enough to know whether or not any of the particular items tested would have been blocked by SpywareBlaster).

 

I read through the website and was kind of shocked that Spybot S&D didn't do all that good. Even X-Cleaner di better. It looks like that Giant program is better ad dectecting spyware (I think Giant is an av) than a program that's made to detect spyware.