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Thread: Adware Report

  1. #1
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    Default Adware Report

    I am a computer instructor and I was very dismayed to read a review on the following web site about Spybot S and D. I recommend this prduct to my students and now I feel as though I should tell them to uninistall this product.


    http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000208.html

    Product: Spybot S&D 1.4
    Price: Free
    Editor Rating: 2 stars

    Click for more info

    Pros
    + Free
    + Instability problems from v1.3 cleared up

    Cons
    - Ineffective against most spyware
    - Infrequent updates
    - No customer support
    - Scheduler doesn’t work

    Review

    Spybot S&D 1.4, a freeware spyware removal tool, provides poor protection against spyware. While it is incrementally better than the previous version, it detected only 41% of our test spyware and disabled only 27% of it. While the serious instability problems of v1.3 seem to have gone away, the bottom line is this program isn't very effective at removing spyware.

    Usability

    After installing Spybot S&D, you are presented with a 7 step wizard. You should probably agree with most of these steps, as they are generally conducive to the proper functioning of the program (definitely scan for new updates, for instance).

    The v1.4 interface is basically identical to the previous version, although the graphics have been cleaned up somewhat (Click here to see screenshots from 1.3). Although the interface isn't as flashy as some other products', Spybot correctly assumes that most people are interested in doing just one thing: removing spyware. They hide all the clutter in the “advanced mode”. We would have liked to see the scheduler added to the basic mode interface, and this remains a serious ommission in the program.

    The first time we ran Spybot S&D 1.4, it failed to find anything on our heavily infested test computer. We had to reboot before the program would work properly

    If spyware could laugh, it would've laughed here. Spybot S&D failed to find anything the first time we ran it, despite the many obvious problems on this computer.
    Removal

    As of October 2005, Spybot S&D detects 30,143 spyware signatures. Spybot experts usually recommend that the program should be run in conjunction with another spyware removal program (typically Adaware) in order to provide reasonable protection, although our tests indicate that Spybot is probably no longer capable of removing anything that AdAware (or other good products) can't.

    Spybot v1.4 is still pretty fast (although not as quick as v1.3) - it completed a full scan in about 14 minutes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear to do a complete scan on your system. Instead, it looks in the most common areas only. While the end result is faster, we would prefer to have a more thorough scan along with the ability to schedule it during off hours.
    Spybot S&D v1.4 didn't do a very good job of removing spyware. It detected 41% of the known spyware on our test PC, but disabled only about 27% of it. After three scans and a reboot, there were plenty of toolbars and other nasties still lingering on this computer.

    After three scans and a reboot, most of the spyware remained functional on this computer.
    Immunization

    Spybot S&D provides limited immunization functionality. It does not monitor your RAM or stop browser hijackings in progress. It does purportedly block against about 1,800 browser helper objects that could embed themselves into Internet Explorer, and has an interesting feature to block known bad addresses in the browser, although we question the usefulness of this feature.

    Rollback

    Spybot S&D does provide rollback capabilities within the program, but in our tests it didn’t save all of the tracking cookies that it deleted. However, Spybot S&D does create a checkpoint using Windows XP’s system restore functionality, so in a bad situation, you should be able to restore your PC to a previous state.

    Other Options

    It took us awhile to find the options area (hint: "Mode" menu, then "advanced mode"). This is a nice feature if you want to exercise serious control over the most minute aspects of the program. Our complaint here is that many are trivial or poorly implemented (such as the "skins" functionality). However, one critical feature, the scheduler, didn't work at all on either of our test PCs. We would prefer that the Spybot writers focus their effort on improving the effectiveness of the product rather than including so many bells-and-whistles.

    Support

    The program was well laid out so a lot of documentation isn’t necessary. In addition, Spybot seems to support more languages than any other product we tested.

    However, there is the usual complaint with freeware products: non-existent support. If you run into issues with the product, you will have to go online and wade through a developers forum and hope someone there can (and is nice enough to) solve your problem. Support emails to the company went unanswered.

    Summary

    Spybot S&D v1.4 seems to be little more than a cosmetic upgrade of v1.3. It's effectiveness leaves a lot to be desired and other programs do a much better job of restoring an infected PC. Spybot provides only average protection, infrequent updates, and non-existent support. Lacking so much as a scheduler, this barebones program is hardly worth the download.

    Sadly, Spybot S&Ds source code has been appropriated by a number of other vendors who continue to shamelessly market it as their own. Don't fall for this. Check out our list of rogue vendors, and if you were considering purchasing any of the products on that list, don't - either purchase one of our recommended commercial products or at a minimum, download Spybot's offering.

    Price: Free


    Any comments?

  2. #2
    Security Expert-Emeritus
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    Hi techgirl
    Did you notice the ones that are recommended are affiliates, in other words someone is getting paid, not a good sign (personal opinion).
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Microsoft MVP Windows-Security 2006

  3. #3
    Member of Team Spybot tashi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by techgirl
    I am a computer instructor and I was very dismayed to read a review on the following web site about Spybot S and D. I recommend this prduct to my students and now I feel as though I should tell them to uninistall this product.
    Hello
    You would be doing your students a favour if you did more research before recommending such.

    http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_...ware.htm#notes

    As the problems with spyware and adware have exploded over the past few years, a number of web sites have sprung up to provide information and even to recommend anti-spyware programs. All too many of these sites are not trustworthy as guides to spyware solutions. Especially bad are the many anti-spyware "review" sites that purport to provide "objective" reviews of anti-spyware programs. The problem with these "review" sites is that many of them push "rogue/suspect" anti-spyware applications. Indeed, many of these sites are affiliates for the very products they "review" and recommend. Most of these sites advertise heavily on Google
    Adware Report adwarereport.comsite webmaster is affiliate for products reviewed (1)
    http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=1154

    Adware Report is certainly not a site I would give any credence to.
    Microsoft MVP Reconnect 2018-
    Windows Insider MVP 2016-2018
    Microsoft Consumer Security MVP 2006-2016

  4. #4
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    Default Information Overload....That's My Excuse!

    My first reaction was to post this here, and I am glad I did. I certainly will not tell them to uninstall the program and I'll be more careful about the information that I do read. I am constantly doing research to keep up to date on the latest security information and I guess I messed up on this one.

    Thanks.......

  5. #5
    Member of Team Spybot tashi's Avatar
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    Thank you for the feedback.

    You didn't mess up, it is all a learning experience for each of us as the www becomes inundated.

    Your students are fortunate to have you, happy and safe surfing.
    Microsoft MVP Reconnect 2018-
    Windows Insider MVP 2016-2018
    Microsoft Consumer Security MVP 2006-2016

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