Spyware Doctor 5.5
Download Now
|
| Editor's rating | 
|
License | Free to try; $29.95 to buy | |
| Average user rating |
(2,463 votes)
Rate it!
|
Limitations | See description | |
| Downloads | 17,908,846  |
Requirements | Windows 2000/XP/Vista | |
| Publisher | PC Tools | File size | 16.1MB | |
| Date added | January 10, 2008 | Alternate download links... | ||
Found a bug that AdAware didn't
11-Apr-2005 09:24:27 AM
Reviewer: The Doober
Pros: Everything about this program warrants high marks: it's easy to install and use, scans relatively quickly, slick looking interface, and IT'S FREE!! I honestly thought the free scanner market was monopolized by AdAware and Spybot, looks like they have competition now. SpyDoctor found a tracking cookie that AdAware missed but they all find bugs that others miss. I'm sure that AdAware and Spybot will tag something that SpyDoctor doesn't someday.
PcTools makes excellent products you can trust. I also have RegMechanic and it's a fine product as well.
Thanks to steve89z for recommending this fine product. :)
Cons: None. And I really do mean that.
I also use AdAware, Spybot, and Bazooka for spyware scanning, AntiVir for virus/trojan scanning, and Hijack This! for browser hijackers. All are free and can be found on this site.
THE SINGLE BEST WAY TO KEEP ADWARE OFF YOUR COMPUTER: Use a web browser OTHER than Internet Explorer. I personally and highly suggest Mozilla Firefox.
Was this review helpful?
185 of 245 users said yes.
> Flag this review for offensive content...
> Reply to this review...
Replies from CNET users
13-Apr-2005 05:22:20 PM
Reviewer: afrobat
i have two adware programs: spybot search and destroy and ad-aware
15-Apr-2005 11:13:24 AM
Reviewer: dyspyzthespyz
taken from cnets review......
"Spyware Doctor's advanced features include real-time protection, a pop-up blocker, a browser monitor, a keylogger guard, and a scheduler. Unfortunately, all of these features are disabled in the free version. The Live Update feature works smoothly, but it must be manually activated. A program such as this really needs an automatic update. We really like the spyware removal features of Spyware Doctor, and consider it one of the most effective available, but the anemic free version will make it hard for users to fully realize its true potential.
"
22-Apr-2005 06:48:14 AM
Reviewer: The Doober
This is not shareware, it's freeware. If it was shareware, the removal options would be limited. AdAware does the exact same thing: they offer the scanner for free and the blocker for a price. As for automatic updating, how hard is it to click 2 or 3 tabs once a week or so? I for one don't want auto updating, auto updates always pop up when I'm trying to do something else.
My suggestions to you are:
1) Form your own opinions of something rather than parrot what others say about it.
2) Form those opinions only after you actually try what your are blindly criticizing.
3) Quit looking gift horses in the mouth.
28-May-2005 01:28:03 AM
Reviewer: clrwtr001
These( in reply summary) are your truest comments in my opinion.
To say that AdAware and Spybot are merely "scanners" when they are in fact full feature spyware "REMOVERS" AND ARE *TOTALLY FREE AS REMOVERS* ( they are not just scanners as implied here by Doober)put them in a catagorie higher than Spyware DR. which is truely a mere scanner, and does nothing to remove them till you *PAY,PAY,PAY*. I do admit I had the paid version OEM, and agree it did work great as a paid app. But as pointed out by most, too many false positives...especially the "free" scanner version being disscussed here.
30-May-2005 06:07:14 PM
Reviewer: ml01172
This program has a great look, they seem to have put a lot of makeup to it. The professional reviews say that it recognizes many threats, that they have made the program very unstable for Win98. Not only that it starts very slowly, but it crashed my system several times before I (of course) uninstalled it forever. The moment I uninstalled it and rebooted the system, the system somehow came back to normal, no more issues. I would not really recommend this program to anyone. Honestly, find a better solution!
13-Jun-2005 02:01:03 AM
Reviewer: The Doober
EVERYTHING is unstable under Windows98!! Quit crying about it and upgrade to 2000 or XP.
24-Jun-2005 03:04:46 AM
Reviewer: grabacontroller
ya its free... pctools.com it says you have to pay. It says for a security key. Wait and you'll see after a while you'll have to pay. It even says its downloading an evalution database.
16-Jul-2005 07:58:06 PM
Reviewer: rccola
Internet Explorer, as long as you take the built-in actions for protection is as or more safe than any other browser. For example, I have downloaded every single fix (even non-critical) from Windows Update (which, by the way, has just updated their access software to Version 6). I subscribe to McAfee, so when a "Recently Updated Threat" appears for the first time on that list, if it mentions either IPs or domain addresses, I enter both into Internet Explorer's "Restricted Sites" List. I also enter all IPs into my Banned IP List within McAfee's Firewall. Using another browser means you miss out on the critical fixes for other Microsoft programs that were engineered to keep hackers out. And some of these other programs cannot be deleted off of your hard drive, because Windows will not allow it. You can stop the hackers that steal Favorites by purchasing "My Personal Favorites" from Webroot. They encrypt your Favorites, delete them from the normal folder location, and place them into the Windows Registry. I have been on the Net for 4 years now, and I have had only one virus that got through, but was picked up by the very next McAfee anti-virus signature update. In conclusion, if you are serious about Internet security, you will be willing to do your part to maintain it.
09-Aug-2005 12:03:12 AM
Reviewer: the_iowa_hawkeye
This program is ANYTHING but free.
It will download free, and run free. But then if you want to actually REMOVE anything it found you have to buy the program.
Completely WORTHLESS!!
1 - 10 of 29
Out of 2,463 votes
CNET Networks is not responsible for the content of these User Reviews.
CNET Download.com does not sell, resell, or license any of the products listed on the site. We cannot be held liable for issues that arise from the download or use of these products.
