Spyware Doctor SE with Antivirus 5.5 released

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Victek, Apr 1, 2008.

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  1. Victek

    Victek Registered Member

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  2. Macstorm

    Macstorm Registered Member

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

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

    RejZoR Lurker

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    Spyware Doctor Starter Edition 5.0 had crippled signature database, yet none ever mentioned that anywhere... it's probably the same with 5.5...
     
  4. Makav3l1

    Makav3l1 Registered Member

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    Are both 5.5 free versions crippled? Anyone know for sure?
     
  5. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    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 ?
     
  6. Makav3l1

    Makav3l1 Registered Member

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    So are the new versions still crippled or not?
     
  7. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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  8. Wordward

    Wordward Former Poster

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    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.
     
  9. Victek

    Victek Registered Member

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    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.
     
  10. Wordward

    Wordward Former Poster

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    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?
     
  11. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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

    Wordward Former Poster

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

    solcroft Registered Member

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    Then I suggest you demand a refund.
     
  14. Wordward

    Wordward Former Poster

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    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.
     
  15. lucas1985

    lucas1985 Retired Moderator

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    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.
     
  16. Wordward

    Wordward Former Poster

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    All the more reason then. For the Starter Edition to have all the signatures.
     
  17. lucas1985

    lucas1985 Retired Moderator

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

    Wordward Former Poster

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





    ?
     
  19. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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    Exactly.

    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. :thumbd: 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.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2008
  20. Macstorm

    Macstorm Registered Member

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    They don't even know what shame is, according to their policy ;)
     
  21. lucas1985

    lucas1985 Retired Moderator

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    See it as a trial of the full software.
     
  22. Fly

    Fly Registered Member

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    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.
     
  23. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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    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.
     
  24. Victek

    Victek Registered Member

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    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.
     
  25. lucas1985

    lucas1985 Retired Moderator

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    To remove infections without paying in advance.
     
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