Spyware Doctor 3.8 - FP Galore

Hello,
I decided to give the time-unlimited SD 3.8 a trial.
I used to trial the free version that existed some time ago. After a few months, on the very day that the free version stopped being free, I found threats in several computers I was using to test this software (3 actually).
Kind of coincident.
And so SD left the test beds and went to join Elvis.
Today, I decided to try the above version, which does not disinfect the found threats, on a machine that IS 100% clean.
And I get the following:
67 infections!
Some cookies and such, no worries. But since when a cookie is a threat or an infection.
Then NetRevenuesStream, a BHO - which does not show in HJT, and there are no add-ons in IE, whatsobloodyever.
Then OnWebMedia, adware which filters ads? Oooh? Really.
And finally, Common components for CWS.VDOMP, NetRevenueStream and Search Toolbar.
Not only that I do not have these BHOs and toolbars - I do not have any whatsoever. And furthermore, CWS ...
Now, HJT clean.
Ewido, Spybot etc give a clean report.
Checking traffic through software firewall on the machine (Jetico) - clean.
Checking traffic through a linux gateway - clean.
Startup, services, etc ... nothing of any interest.
So ... my big question is ...
How come?
False Positives ... again ... or sinister marketing bullcrap.
I am disappointed ... again.
Mrk

 

After reading such good reviews about this software I decided
to download the trial, but I had the same disappointing results
as you, 87 false positives, and ya know I could see one maybe
two fp's but 87 ? so yes it seemed to me that this does
smack a scare tactics and nope didnt purchase this program
uninstalled it right after the first scan.

 

I also tried "Spyware Doctor v3.8.0.2582" and ran a full system scan.

It found 9 high risk threats on my computer.
- 3 in my Windows Hosts File (nothing wrong there)
- 6 in my Restricted Sites of MSIE. (nothing wrong there either)

It took 25 minutes to report these 9 false positives and I was even more depressed, when I had to buy this software to remove these false positives. I keep my comments for myself this time.

 

I used SD some, but found that it gave too many FP to be useful to me.
Jerry

 

Spyware Doctor is considered as a trustworthy AS scanner by E. Howes.
Pest Patrol is also a trustworthy AS scanner, but had also many false positives according my readings.
I think that SUPERAnti-Spyware is a better choice.

 

it seems there is a very thin line between the rogue list and SD

 

I fully agree with you. Each AS scanner that forces you to buy it in order to remove the threats is typical and common for all rogue AS scanners.
All decent AS scanners don't do that in the trial period. They sometimes give you lesser possibilities, but never the important ones, like detection and removal of threats.

 

I have always thought that SD might be rather exaggarating the findings. I am not expert at all but seems it marks many enteries( esp in temp intetnet files) as asware/ rouge sites/ bad sites etc.