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PC Answers anti-spyware group test

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PC Answers (issue 157, April 06) has a group test of anti-spyware packages. Thought I'd mention it after wolfman's useful thread on the same subject last year.

The PC Answers magazine page isn't available online unfortunately. PC Tools Spyware Doctor 3.5 comes out on top (95% rating) just ahead of Webroot SpySweeper 4.5 (89% rating) and Sunbelt CounterSpy 1.5 (85% rating). Others tested were Spybot S&D (75%), ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware (70%), Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta) (70%) and McAfee AntiSpyware 2006 (70%).

When you actually read the blurb, Spybot S&D did very well and as they say, it deserves a spot on everyone's desktop. Just a pity the test didnt include other packages like Ad-Aware SE and ewido anti-malware.

Comments

  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    cwoodham wrote:
    Just a pity the test didnt include other packages like Ad-Aware SE and ewido anti-malware.
    That's weird because Ad Aware has been around for ages and is generally very good. What are they playing at?
  • pchelpman
    pchelpman Posts: 1,275 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    One answer could be that the test was apparently on antispyware products .... Ad Aware is antiadware. However, there's no real "hard & fast" rule to define absolutely what is a virus/trojan/spyware/aware and so on. It's all "malware" and everything mentioned here is good stuff.

    I believe various industry heavyweights are at least trying to get their heads together and come up with definitions that they all agree on. I have my doubts they will ever do this successfully or, even if they do, I doubt it will be beneficial in the overall fiight against the miscreants that devise all this horrid stuff.

    After all, if everyone thinks on the same lines as to what is, and what isn't, as virus, for example, the virus writers will know exactly what to deal with.

    Personally, I think the wide diversity of opinions is to be welcomed and encouraged. Even if it does mean we all have to use a plethora of different anti-malware tools!!
  • pks00
    pks00 Posts: 559 Forumite
    did they or anyone else try XOFTSpy? that is one wicked spyware removal software. http://paretologic.com/products.aspx
    :hello:

    Surviving A Day In The Office
    9am Switch on PC, 9.05am - Check Email, 9.10am - Download Virus, 9.30am - Call Helpdesk, 10am - Relax all day whilst engineer fixes problem!

    Shopping Tips
    Don't spend five pounds to dry clean a shirt. Donate it to the charity shop instead. They'll clean it and put it on a hanger. Next morning buy it back for two pounds.
  • timm_2
    timm_2 Posts: 132 Forumite
    Yep - adaware and spybot do slightly different things. If in doubt, install both.

    Incidentally, always remember to update the database on both programs regularly.
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