Spyware Doctor

Spyware Doctor is a spyware removal product for Microsoft Windows developed by PC Tools.

Features

Spyware Doctor scans a PC for spyware, examining files on the hard drive, objects in memory, the Windows registry and [cookies|cookies], and then attempts to quarantine or remove recognized threats. It also includes real-time protection which attempts to block threats from being saved to the disk, set to startup automatically, suspicious programs running and other detection including new toolbars and add-ons for web browsers.

Spyware Doctor is designed for Windows 2000, XP and Vista 32-bit editions. It will not install on 64-bit operating systems.

License

It is normally purchased as a yearly subscription which includes new versions and updates, and is available online as well as in retail stores. PC Tools, like other security companies such as McAfee, Symantec and recently Microsoft with OneCare, has now implemented an automatic renewal system whereby customer's subscriptions are renewed every year automatically until cancelled.

Spyware Doctor is not free, but a free scan version is offered, providing real-time protection and scans for spyware, but only the full version is capable of removing spyware. An alternative to removing the spyware is to use the free version to find where the spyware is located and then manually remove it. Spyware often includes both files located on the hard drive and entries in the Windows registry.

Spyware Doctor Starter Edition was included in the Google Pack in March 2007, this version allows scan and removal of threats, limited real-time protection, but limited database updates, apparently not even half of the full malware database.

Awards and Reviews

Spyware Doctor received the PC World Best Buy award in the October 2007 issue of the magazine saying "PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 5.0 was the clear winner, outperforming the competition at detecting and removing our test set of adware and spyware samples.

Spyware Doctor has also received several Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine, including one for Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5 in 2008. The product has also received numerous other awards from around the globe.

Not all reviews have been positive and early versions of Spyware Doctor 5.0, which the company rewrote from scratch, received some negative commentary. CNET's Download.com reviews, justifies the 3-star rating by saying " in our trial scans, Spyware Doctor repeatedly flagged several dozen harmless cookies as potential threats, more than any other antispyware product we tested. We were also unable to learn more about each threat or why Spyware Doctor flagged each."

References

External links

• Official Spyware Doctor website
• PCWorld.com "Best Vista Antispyware", PC World, August 21, 2007.
• AdwareReport.com "Spyware Doctor 5.0 Review", July 24, 2007
• Rubenking, Neil J. "You Need Antispyware - Spyware Doctor 4.0", PC Magazine, July 20, 2006.
• Rebbapragada, Narasu. "Spyware Doctor Review", PC World, August 23, 2006.