antispyware programs

hello,
i was just looking at the features of spyware doctor,spysweeper 5.5 and counterspy 2.0
it seems one of the main focus of CounterSpy and spyware doctor is providing the best protection against malware without slowing your pc down.
where as spysweeper seems to load slower and slower in every new version that comes out.
the problems i have are as follows.
1. the program takes ages to load the GUI and hogs nearly percent cpu while loading
2. sometimes computer wont load up after reboot when spysweeper service is set to automatic.
so i would have to press the reset button then press enter to start windows normally.
I am hoping i can contact webroot support and get these issues sorted out but i wondered if anyone had had any luck contacting webroot support?
ive used spysweeper since version 3.0 and 3.0 till 4.5 i had no issues with it.
but ever since the 5x seris ive had quite alot of problems.
lodore

 

Didn't you try to contact SS Support yourself yet? Just because you are screaming here all the time about that BS (your words) program? And what was their answer?

Until yet I didn't see any AS vendor who says that there program does not provide the best protection and it does slow down your machine.

Gerard

 

Hi geraldwil,

spysweeper 5.3 took alot less time to load the GUI than the 5.5 version
ive just emailed webroot support.
still post any ideas.
if webroot solve the issues then i will edit this thread right away.
lodore

 

Exactly what I said.

Btw I am/was a tester for CounterSpy.
Don't know anything about the Doctor.

And BS was referring to SS (as you said in earlier posts)

Gerard

 

Hi Lodore,

You can try 'Castlecops' they have a Webroot section.

Take Care
Rico

 

Hello,
i just tryed spysweeper 5.5 upstairs on my test pc.
it is quite slow loading the program but once its loaded the gui opens right away.
there is no locking up of the whole computer or anything like that.
so ive come to the conclusion that this windows xp install is messed up and I really should reinstall it. but i wont for now at least.
on my account it doesnt seem to bad but it always locks up on my dads account.

on a side note i was looking at the tests at av compartives at the tests for counterspy dectection rates with the VIPRE engine. i wonder if IBK has ever concidered doing a test with spysweeper with antivirus?
i just wonder if the detection rates are as good as it used to be.
it would be even better to show the results with and without the antivirus version to see how much detection rate the sophos engine gives.
lodore

 

lodore what is your experience with these programs regarding finding spyware ?
(Ignoring the many false positives that are a feature of most programs)

It may be possible that just running on demand every few weeks provides more than enough reassurance ?

 

Hello long view,
I hardly ever even run on demand scans these days.
my only realtime protection is kis7.0 and that is enough for me.
the webav in kis7.0 blocked a zob trojan the other day from a link my dad clicked on but other than that i havent had any malware problems.
so i just update superantispyware and do on demand scans.
and sometimes i do scans with spysweeper.
all they find is tracking cookies.
so i clean out the browser cache before i do the scans.
lodore

 

Sorry - when you wrote about some programs slowing things down I assumed that they were running all the time in the background. If all they ever find is cookies ( which can do no harm) why slow your machine down ?

 

I do sometimes run superantispyware as realtime and that doesnt slow my pc down. but atm my only realtime is kis7.0
spysweeper slows my system downb just lanching it to update it without even thinking about running it realtime.
even with spysweeper engine service running without the GUI lanched slows down my internet to much.
so i disabled the self protective sheilds and put the service set to manual.
i have no slow downs with just kis7.0 active.
lodore

 

I have exactly the same experience. Spysweeper takes a lot of time loading. And it does jobs KIS 6.0 does too, like scanning email.

I simply removed Spysweeper and feel that KIS 6.0 is capable enough to keep my computer clean.

 

Hi Hythloday,
that was a very good thing to do.
just remember the amazing Kis7.0 is officaly out soon.
im running kis7.0 atm and its running great.
its even lighter than kis6.0
lodore

 

It is not out in my language. I have become a bit afraid to install new programs. When I had KIS 6 and Spysweeper 5.5 on my computer there was a severe conflict and the registry of my computer got damaged when I uninstalled Spysweeper, so I had to re-install Windows.

KIS 6 is a light program compared to McAfee Virusscan Plus, so I am quite happy at the moment.

 

Hello,
If you are so much unsatisfied with a program, why do you use it?
Mrk

 

because my dad paid for the subscription.
i really should try to explain to my dad again that it keeps on locking up the computer and we dont need it.
lodore

 

Don't tell me that your father will notice an absense of Spyware Sweeper . You just get rid of it and that's all . In rare case if he seea something , you can explain with two or three kind words that with the other protection you have , it is completely unnecessary and resourse hog

 

thanks hitech i will uninstall it tomorrow and explain if and when i need to.
im just glad he didnt renew when webroot sent him the email about only 6months of protection left
lodore

 

Is that true ... ... it is silly , "you have 6 months left" . Just like I re-sold someone an antivirus yestedays and today I email him writing : You have 11+ months subscription left , would you like to renew today

 

yes it is true
anyway i just uninstalled spysweeper and rebooted.
the computer is definatly running smoother.
if my dad wants to do some scans ill get him to do a scan with superantispyware instead.
lodore

 

Now remove all your remaining security programs. Live dangerously - will run much faster - go on you know you want to

 

lmao
all ive got is kis7.0,superantispyware and spyware blaster.
I belive in lean and mean.
i just checked the system for left overs of webroot stuff and it seems to of all gone.
no folders with webroot name and nothing with webroot in autoruns.
lodore

 

lodore, you might want to consider running the Spy Sweeper Cleanup Utility. It's about time you removed that garbage from your pc.

 

I have the impression that Spysweeper is the most troublesome AS followed by Spyware Doctor. I have used Spysweeper, but found it much to intrusive, and the times I used SD I experienced too many FP.

Other AS programs have run well, including Counterspy.

Best,
Jerry

 

I see at least one leftover in your signature

Gladiool

 

thanks elitekiller
i run the cleanup tool.
@geraldwil i have cleaned up my signiture=D
lodore