Entered CNET Catalog: 12/11/2007
SKU: CNETSPYWAREDOCTOR51
Manufacturer: PC Tools Software
Manufacturer description
Spyware Doctor has been downloaded over 100 Million times; with a million more downloads every week. Millions of people worldwide use Spyware Doctor to protect their identity and PC security. Did you know that numerous programs tested against Spyware Doctor detected only small fraction of Spyware and completely removed an even smaller amount? Also most of them were unable to effectively block Spyware in real time from being installed on users PC in the first place. Spyware Doctor has the most advanced update feature that continually improves its Spyware fighting capabilities on daily basis. As Spyware gets more complex to avoid detection by AntiSpyware programs Spyware Doctor responds with new technology to stay one step ahead. Spyware Doctor is advanced technology designed especially for people, not experts. It is automatically configured out of the box to give you optimal protection with limited interaction so all you need to do is install it for immediate and ongoing protection. Spyware Doctor's advanced OnGuard technology only alerts users on a true Spyware detection. This is significant because you should not be interrupted by cryptic questions every time you install software, add a site to your favorites or change your PC settings. Such messages can be confusing and lead to undesirable outcomes such as inoperable programs, lost favorites or even Spyware being allowed to install on the system. PC Tools has done the research so you don't have to.Product summary
The good: Spyware Doctor 5.1 includes antivirus, fixes previous glitches, and improves overall performance.
The bad: Spyware Doctor 5.1 trial version does not work unless you buy the product; installed version did not fully uninstall; frequent pop-up alerts; found too many cookies; in testing, Spyware Doctor didn't remove all traces of found spyware.
The bottom line: Spyware Doctor 5.1 could be more aggressive in removing all traces of found spyware.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/01/2008
Editors' note: On March 5, 2008, CNET revised its antispyware review ratings to emphasize a product's ability to remove spyware. The new ratings are based on the following formula: Installation (20 percent), Features (20 percent), Performance (50 percent), and Support (10 percent). In most cases a product's rating went down, expanding the range between highest and lowest rated.
The latest release of PCTools Spyware Doctor 5.x addresses a number of nettlesome software glitches we experienced with version 5.0. In testing on version 5.1 done by CNET labs, Spyware Doctor did proactively shield us from test spyware in seven out of ten test cases, but it failed to remove more than half the load points for the spyware samples that had already infected our test computer. (Note: After our testing of Spyware Doctor 5.1 against nine other competing products in November 2007, PCTools has since released Spyware Doctor 5.5. Comparing the two on a desktop system, we find little visible difference between the two versions). Our opinion: If you want antispyware protection, you should insist that the spyware be removed completely.
Setup
Spyware Doctor costs $29.95 for a single license (a two-user license costs $49.50) and runs on Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista. Although PCTools advertises a free trial, the trial is not full-function, and it will only detect, not remove, any spyware found--a fact you'll find out only after you've installed, rebooted your computer, and run a complete scan. By comparison, SunBelt offers full-function trial of its CounterSpy v2 with no strings attached. You can download the free Spyware Doctor Starter Edition via Google Pack, however you'll need to deselect a number of other applications that you may not want first. Michael Horowitz offers his experience of trying to make the free version of Spyware Doctor work for him in this Defensive Computing blog.
Should you want to remove Spyware Doctor, there's a handy uninstall icon provided in the All Programs list. After uninstall, however, we found several traces of Spyware Doctor within our system registry. This surprised us, since most of the antispyware applications we tested provided clean uninstalls.
Interface
Once the program is up and running, Spyware Doctor's interface is intuitive and easy to use. All of its features are clearly labeled and accessible. In addition to the expected spyware scanning, there's a host of system immunization and real-time monitoring features available in the OnGuard section. Spyware Doctor includes a scheduler that allows you to automate full-system scans, quick scans, and even live program updates.
After a full system scan, Spyware Doctor displays information about each threat in its right-hand window. However, our attempt to learn more about each threat went unsatisfied. The link for "more information" opened our default browser and took us to a PC Tools page. But it was a page that gave no additional information than what was reported within Spyware Doctor itself. One threat, Spyware. Bad Sites, appears be a generic response for which we could find no specific information. Spyware Doctor also found a lot of cookies, more than any other product we tested. Cookies, in our opinion, aren't always dangerous.
We also find that Spyware Doctor was noisier than other antispyware applications. When not using Spyware Doctor, the application nonetheless popped several dialog boxes informing us of minor details of its operation. None of the other antispyware applications we tested provided such constant distraction.
Features
Spyware Doctor 5.x doesn't offer a lot of additional features over the previous version; the improvements, we're told, are internal. We were hoping to see a way to secure our browser, like that found in CounterSpy, or a way to thoroughly delete deleted files, like that found in other antispyware applications.
The enhanced antirootkit protection within Spyware Doctor 5.x remains disabled by default. There's a warning on the configuration screen that enabling this feature requires vigilance, as the PCTools antirootkit heuristic findings may include false positives.
Real-time protection can be enabled or disabled, a curious distinction. One might disable real-time protection, for example, to lessen the impact on system resources, relying upon a thorough scan of the system to root out any spyware that had recently installed. The scans were fast, but we found during multiple scans that Spyware Doctor sometimes consumed more than 20 percent of our system resources, yet this was still better than similar performance under Spyware Doctor 5.0..
Performance
For antispyware protection, PCTools Spyware Doctor 5.1 placed in the lower half of the pack in our current CNET antispyware tests. CNET labs conducts three separate tests using spyware found to be bundled within free applications rejected by CNET Download.com (as part of its software policies, Download.com does not host applications containing known spyware). In the first test, active detection, PCTools Spyware Doctor detected 70 percent of the spyware; in the second, on demand test, PCTools Spyware Doctor detected 75 percent of the spyware; however, in the removal test, PCTools Spyware Doctor removed all traces for only 30 percent of the spyware in our test, thus lowering its overall score.
CNET did not test the antivirus components of this product in our annual survey of antivirus products, and thus can offer no recommendations.
Support
Upon installation, PCTools provides Spyware Doctor users with a Quick Start guide, a general one-page guide to the program's basic features. Online, PcTools maintains a robust user community forum., and we found the Spyware Doctor FAQ to be adequate. After viewing the FAQ, you can answer whether the questions and answers were helpful. Saying "No" moves you to an e-mail feedback page. PCTools offers 24-7 telephone technical support at 1-800-764-5783.
Conclusion
With Spyware Doctor 5.1 PCTools has done a great job in addressing the concerns of users who experienced glitches with version 5.0. They appear to have shored up the product from the inside. But, in looking at the competitive landscape, we think that for less money you can find more thorough antispyware protection in less expensive products.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31out of 31 user reviews
My main removal and detection tool.
Pros: Fast detection, good removal, not too much of a resource hog.
Cons: It isn't free? Could be a little less stingy and offer a free trial.
out of 31 user reviews
So far so good! Don't get the bad reviews?
Pros: Did the trick. Got rid of virus - Antivirus 2008 Pro, among a few others on my laptop. Easy to install and use.
Cons: It's not in the "fine print", it's pretty obvious that when you enter your credit card number that it's not free. Why are people so surpised at this? You sign up for a service, and it costs 30 bucks a year, and worth evey penny in my opinion.
out of 31 user reviews
Questionable !
Pros: not recommended
Cons: Since a website like http://www.411-spyware.com recommends this program to use to remove the fakealert.trojan, I suspect that the same people might be responsible for making both malware and remedy.
out of 31 user reviews
Poor Service- automatically rebills your account
Pros: Nothing! I can tell it was ineffective.
Cons: Doesn't detect most of the spyware,will freeze up when there is any spyware on your system. It's completely useless. AVG Free was much more effective ! Costed me $29.95 and was wothless. they rebilled me for an additiona $29.95 without my permission
out of 31 user reviews
Avoid company, read small print of license!
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Sign you up for auto renewals automatically. They keep your credit card info and charge without permission. When they reversed my charges, they cancelled my license and shorted me one month's service. Your license expires in one year! Nothing after!
When company charged my account without my knowledge, evidently I wasn't the only one. They pulled their U.S. customer service number from their website so people wouldn't call. Fortunately, they weren't smart enough to eliminate all the customer service numbers on their website. Finally, customer service rep admitted there was something going on.
Avoid for better run companies.
out of 31 user reviews
SAVE YOUR MONEY!
Pros: It was cheap. The cheap comes out expensive
Cons: It's trash. Keep looking.
out of 31 user reviews
spent 4 hours yesterday trying to get windows fixed
Pros: dont like anything. seems to be nothing more than a cookie eliminator....
Cons: pc doctor will create restore points each time you remove items found...at best uncheck the restore box. Memory hog...slows computer way down...and i have a fast computer.
out of 31 user reviews
Fraudulent
Pros: Easy to install, but hard to remove.
Cons: PCtools charged their unsolicited services to my charge card without my permission.
How bogus is that?
out of 31 user reviews
AVOID IT - They NEVER STOP TAKING YOUR MONEY
Pros: NONE of any value
Cons: I set up autosubscription two years ago. Despite cancelling they took payment last year but refunded payment and cancelled the Autopayment. This year they took the money AGAIN. When I complained they only cancelled autosubscription again. No refund.
out of 31 user reviews
PC Tools is a company of thieves
Pros: Product is average at best.
Cons: PC Tools took it upon itself to charge my credit card without my authorization to renew my subscription to Spyware Doctor. They even had the audacity to charge me the highest price for their product instead of the low prices they emailed me.
Their North American Sales office phone has been "busy" without reprieve. For a company that is suppose to weed out scams on the net, they seem to be partaking in it. Avoid these guys at all cost. I upgraded to a different product from a reputable company.
out of 31 user reviews
This is not free. It won't remove threats.
Pros: Nothing I can say.
Cons: It touted itself as a free download; it wasn't. After trying to install it, and finally scanning, then it wouldn't remove the threats.
out of 31 user reviews
Four Years On And No Problems
Pros: Fast scanning, regular updates, excellent tech support, no conflicts with other programs, real time pop-ups warning me of known bad sites.
Cons: After performing Live Update my computer will sometimes lock up, forcing me to use the task manager to shut it down.
BTW, I now have Version 6.0.0.11. It may have addressed some of the issues raised by the unhappy users.
out of 31 user reviews
Great Program
Pros: Finds spyware and malware that Norton and other programs cant
Cons: None so far
out of 31 user reviews
Watch Out!1
Pros: Does a good job, had for a yearnow.
Cons: JUst charged my credit card 29.95 without notice or permission to "renew" my subscription,since I no longer use the product why did they charge me????
Great news, we have successfully renewed your product's subscription.
Notice not you have -- we have! If you have this product for over a year please check your credit card statements!
out of 31 user reviews
been using for years,no complaints about prod or backup
Pros: No problem recommending it to freinds and installing on family computers.
When it has missed something, there has been terrific support coming from the Spydoctor people and it hasn't been 'did you turn the computer on' type questions.
Cons: Not a lot I don't like.
I certainly have found them very responsive to any rare issues I have encountered and the STEP BY STEP instructions are in clear order, not the old "STEP 5 before doing step 3 you MUST have done this".
Gives me enough confidence that's it's not just anyone off the street taking my issue and reading from a script..
I think that's the best you can hope for from ANY software company.
out of 31 user reviews
If you hate money, but love spyware! BUY THIS PRODUCT!!
Pros: Um, a false sense of security, for a day or so?
Cons: Doesn't work
Support does not respond, EVER
Doesn't work
Impossible to get a refund
Slows computer to a crawl
Doesn't work
out of 31 user reviews
Mostly Useless but yet some good in it? Very Few if any
Pros: it does detect the Trojen, Ad-aware, Spy ware but.
Cons: McAfee detected the SpyDoctor as a Trojen? What's up with that? Now the new and improved ver6 as of Sep 27th. new and improved Window Exploer and Avant Brower Freezer. It Freeses Windows Vista Ultimate, Crashes the system.
I've reported the problems to PCTools.com but, they just told me to contact the McAfee about the problems insted. I don't trust this program at all.
out of 31 user reviews
I don't suppose any of you own the program? It works!!
Pros: This program has kept our PC running smooth and protected us from internet crud for 3 yrs. I like all the features. Exploit guard, browser guard ,immunizer, keylogger guard, popup guard and site guard. There are a few others ,bu they dont do anything
Cons: Not much...like I said this thing has kept our computer clean for yrs
out of 31 user reviews
The Negatives FAR Outweigh the Positives
Pros: Faster scan time than previous versions.
Cons: SLOWER boot up and shut down of computer. Can add up to three minutes of time to shut down. It's a real problem -- and pctools has made no attempt to address the problem. This is a problem PCTOOLS tries to sweep under the rug.
out of 31 user reviews
AVOID IT.....
Pros: I don't recommend you try this.
Cons: Had to uninstall it to get my computer back in shape. Uninstall? It left a pile of junk behind that took time to clean out.
out of 31 user reviews
A complete resource hog
Pros: Can remove spyware
Cons: Uses so much resource as to render your computer useless
out of 31 user reviews
excellent product, used it on many computers, got all spyware and mallware deleted!
Pros: great value for money, excellent removal of spyware and mallware
Cons: license is only valid for 1 year after that a renewal is needed
out of 31 user reviews
rip me of....................
Pros: look nice......................
Cons: piece of junk
out of 31 user reviews
free from Google... it worked but ...
Pros: Computer sluggishness got better a bit
Cons: After system restore, error notice! cannot click out of that...
I do use Trend Micro PCillin (also a so so program )for virus scans(it does not recognize spyware). I am so sorry I downloaded Spyware Doctor. I wish I read your comments 5 days ago....
out of 31 user reviews
Decent Product but......................
Pros: Decent Scans
Cons: WONT LET ME COMPLETELY UNINSTALL PRODUCT ... WHY??
out of 31 user reviews
Horror, please make the pain stop.
Pros: I could remove it after the damage had been done
Cons: This software removed my bookmarks, stomped all over my os, and took me 2 hours to undo the damage.
It slowed os to a crawl, removed my bookmarks which are not to be found again.
It is irresponsible for cnet to even have this on their web site.
This is the worst software ever.
BEWARE.
out of 31 user reviews
Gave me problems!
Pros: None at all
Cons: Actually initiated a spyware hidden in a file.
out of 31 user reviews
Did not like it as it was a horrible experince with it.
Pros: none at all for it
Cons: Did not like it at all it was a horrible software
out of 31 user reviews
SD 5.1 works, but may delete perfectly fine files!
Pros: seems to work on low level threats, like adware.
Cons: deletes perfectly clean files, naming them Trojans
Also, while fixing, it deleted file without any warning!
Absolutely unacceptable!
out of 31 user reviews
Excellent product
Pros: ease of use, reliability
Cons: Rating of spyware severity is questionable
out of 31 user reviews
It stinks much
Pros: none none none
Cons: many many many
It really stinks..overrated as usual by site full of spam BIG TIME SPAM AND SPYWARE watch out !!!!
