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PC Tools Spyware Doctor

85

Very Good

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6 User Reviews | add yours »

Pros
Excellent rootkit detection
Cons
Alarmist initial scan results

Full Specifications
Price when reviewed	Expensive $30
Cost of renewal when reviewed	$30
Performance	Very Good
Adware and spyware detection rate	90%
Adware disinfection rate	50%
Spyware disinfection rate	65%
Detection of inactive adware and spyware samples	16%
Detection of inactive rootkits	22%
Detection of active rootkits	100%
Rate of false positives when installing legitimate toolbars	75%
Detected additions to HKCU Run keys	Yes
Detected additions to HKLM Run keys	Yes
Detected additions to Windows Startup	No
Detected changes to Internet Explorer Search page	No
Detected changes to Internet Explorer Home page	Yes
Detected changes to Hosts file	No
Features	Superior (Reflects version 4.0)
Real-time protection	Yes
Scheduled scan	Yes
Scan custom files and folders	Yes
Startup scan	Yes
Antiphishing	Yes
Antiphishing real-time analytics	No
Can save log files	Yes
Can quarantine individual items	Yes
Can set system restore point	Yes
Support policies
Weekday support hours	24
Free phone support	Yes
Saturday support hours	24
Sunday support hours	24
Toll-free support	Yes
E-mail support	Yes
Live chat	Yes

PC Tools Spyware Doctor 3.8 Review

by Narasu Rebbapragada

- PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 3.8 offers solid protection against adware, spyware, and rootkits in an easy-to-use and feature-rich interface. The company releases frequent product upgrades, which come with the $30 annual subscription fee. As a result, we performance-tested version 3.8 of the product and then user-tested version 4.0.

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User Reviews for PC Tools Spyware Doctor

Reviewed by: glwilson8338

Duration of ownership: 1 Week

Strengths: easy download; effective against most malware

Weaknesses: Not effective against k8l.info source Trojan Downloader

Overall Evaluation: SD was not able to remove or successfully quarantine the k8l.info Trojan Downloader or prevent the installation of Browser helper object Add-on DLL files in IE7 when the PC was rebooted after the removal attempt was done. SD knew the infection was there, but would report that some files could not be removed without reboot; upon reboot to SAFE mode with internet connection disabled, SD conducted a new search for malware, but the same iterative process would be duplicated.
Reviewed by: leroy1938

Duration of ownership: 10 Days

Strengths: It removed spyware that other software seemed to have missed, it was fast while the scanning and cleaning up the hard drive has good setting and control

Weaknesses: Slowed down my computed very noticeable. it would not let me open some email, notice warned me I was low on memory

Overall Evaluation: The new Spyware Doctor, while active and enabled, has slowed application startups to a crawl. Outlook Express takes 45 seconds to open. About the same with Word. If I exit or disable Spyware Doctor, it's back to full speed ahead. I'm sorely disappointed. Now, I keep Spyware Doctor disabled and load it once a week, update it (which requires a reboot each time) and then run an intelli-scan.

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