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PC Answers anti-spyware group test
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cwoodham
Posts: 432 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
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.
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.
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cwoodham wrote:Just a pity the test didnt include other packages like Ad-Aware SE and ewido anti-malware.0
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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!!0 -
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.0 -
Yep - adaware and spybot do slightly different things. If in doubt, install both.
Incidentally, always remember to update the database on both programs regularly.0
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