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CNET Editors' review
Correction: Although this review was written for Spyware Doctor version 8, a typo misstated the version number as version 7. That has since been corrected.
Spyware Doctor 8 offers users a superb collection of malware prevention and removal tools, but its infamously strict trial restrictions makes it difficult to evaluate. With quick scanning and multiple tools for stopping malware before it infects your computer, the paid version is a solid spyware remover.
Installing the program annoyingly requires you to reboot the computer, but as soon as Windows finishes loading, the program will start scanning for malware. Impressively, the scan took only about five minutes, which much faster than competing programs, and properly categorized problems such as tracking cookies as low-level threats. Once you remove the threats, which requires purchasing a license, the Start Scan tab will offer an Intelli-Scan, which is the Quick Scan rebranded, a Full Scan, and a Custom Scan. The Intelli-Scan shouldn't be confused with the IntelliGuard tab that provides access to the 10 subguards that the program offers. These are largely self-explanatory: Behavior, Browser, Cookie, Email, File, Immunizer, Network, Process, Site, and Startup. Behavior Guard, for example, is powered by PC Tools' ThreatFire engine for protecting against zero-day threats and malicious behavior.
This version of Spyware Doctor also lacks the antivirus engine that its bigger sibling Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus provides, and as such, it's more comparable to Ad-Aware than a complete antivirus and antispyware program like Norton. The program comes with some useful settings options, too, including a gaming mode and the option to run a scan at start-up. However, its default setting for rootkit scanning is off. While the trial version of Spyware Doctor can't remove detected threats, it does offer real-time protection--much like PC Tools' free ThreatFire program.
Spyware Doctor:Publisher's Description
From PC Tools:
The new Spyware Doctor detects, removes and blocks the nastiest Spyware, adware, Trojan horses, keyloggers, Spyware cookies, adbots, spybots, browser hijackers (BHO), rootkits, phishing and other malware attacks. The powerful OnGuard feature provides real-time protection and deploys many Guards that actively monitor and protect the PC from Spyware attacks, including; immunization, keylogger protection, malicious processes, site protection, popup blocking, and browser monitor. Additionally it actively protects Web browsing with a built-in popup blocker, cookie guard and malicious site protection. Spyware Doctor is easy-to-use and low on PC resources and you'll appreciate the super fast scanning speed which is delivered by multiple specialized scanners. This unique architecture allows Spyware Doctor to outperform other anti-spyware solutions as each scanner specializes in the identification of specific traits of infections for more effective detection and removal. Almost any function of Spyware Doctor can be updated through the Smart Update process and it is constantly being improved and extended to counteract the most aggressive Spyware threats. Registered users get free updates, upgrades and new versions for a full year, so you don't need to worry about being stuck with outdated technology. Backed by 24/7 expert customer support, it's reliable, effective, and highly recommended software. So protect your PC now from spyware, adware, keyloggers, Trojans and other programs, we recommend you get Spyware Doctor today.
What's new in this version: Version 8.0 includes protection report card to keep you informed of how PC Tools has protected your PC over the last 30 days.
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All versions:
3.2 starsout of 2,811 votes
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Current version:
2.3 starsout of 98 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Integral in my arsenal, I can't survive without it."
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
Finds and pulls many issues and nasties that no other software can find. Solid!
Cons
Slows my PC down a bit while browsing, but that's the price you have to pay to have a great product protect you!
Summary
I spent 6 months trying to see if I could do without Spyware Doctor - just not possible.
I repair Laptops, and this is such an amazing tool in the workshop! -
"This Once Mighty Program is Now System Hogging Garbage"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
None, as it practically makes you system unusable. Customer support never responds. I've used this product happily for the better part of a decade and now with the last couple versions, I've canceled my recurring annual fee for it.
Cons
See "Pros". This used to be the best software around. You hardly knew it was there and found things that the others missed and better yet, it prevented new things. Now, even if it still accomplished this, it is beside the point as it hobbles your system worse than the spyware it is fighting. This is a common problem as companies try to add more and more features to convince you to spend more money and to justify the existence of all the employees they've hired.
Summary
Go with something simple like Malware-Antibytes or other popular software on CNET. There are only two tings you care about. 1) Does it defend your system and 2) do you even notice it is installed. If the answer 1) is "Yes" and to 2) "No" then use that product. Spyware Doctor does not meet this standard and has not for the past few versions.
STRONG WARNING TO ANYONE CONSIDERING THIS PRODUCT!!!!!! THE USER RATING IS 3 STARS, BUT THE REVIEWS FOR THIS PRODUCT ARE FILLED WITH BOGUS, SEEMINGLY AUTOMATED 5 STAR REVIEWS THAT MASSIVELY INFLATE THE AVERAGE USE RATING. I WOULD SAY THE REAL NUMBER IS PROBABLY 2 STARS OR LESS.
Updated on Mar 2, 2013 -
"PC Tools... steer clear of these scammers"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
Well, downloading this software did increase my scam-awareness.
Cons
This company uses bait and switch tactics.
Summary
I recently did several system scans with AVG, and it keeps finding malware in the system file MDPMGRNT.SYS, without being able to remove these threats. Searching the net for a solution, I found the site 'maxoptimizer.com', and they reported to have a solution for malware hidden in exactly this file. They recommended to reboot in safe mode and then download and run a special removal tool. A couple of citations from their site: 'To completely remove MDPMGRNT.SYS infected virus, please follow the removal instructions below.' And 'Install our recommended MDPMGRNT.SYS infected virus removal tool after the download completes.' So I did.
To my surprise, the program that was being installed didn't turn out to be the dedicated tool I was expecting, but PC Tools Spyware Doctor. This already seemed a bit fishy to me, but as it was already installing, I decided to let Spyware Doctor scan my system anyway, still expecting it to find and remove the malware in the MDPMGRNT.SYS file.
While It did report a handful of supposedly infected files, Spyware Doctor didn't even find the infection in MDPMGRNT.SYS. I figured that I could at least have it remove the malware that it did find, and then a message came up that I had to buy the program to remove the detected threats. So they tricked me into downloading their software to remove (!) a very specific threat that their software wasn't even able to detect, just to get their software on my system and make me buy the junk.
Wait a minute... a provider of internet security software using tricks and bait and switch tactics? Riiiight. Oh well, on the internet, scammers are hiding in every corner, sometimes even where you least expect them.
Anyway, I immediately uninstalled Spyware Doctor, only to receive all kind of error messages about files that couldn't be removed (maybe I should have exited safe mode and reboot before removing Spyware Doctor, but I wanted it off my system as quickly as possible). Nice, even more junk on my system to hunt down and clean up.
Is it possible that AVG wrongly reported the mentioned file to be infected, that being the reason that Spyware Doctor didn't find the infection? In theory, yes. But a company that's using these kind of bait and switch tactics doesn't get the benefit of the doubt from me. I won't ever touch anything from them again. -
"Pile of absolute crap."
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
Nothing from what I heard.
Cons
Memory hog, blocks out other applications, and acts like spyware itself, it even blocks out it's own tools made by the same company, I mean, what is up with this.
Summary
In conclusion, I'm glad I stuck with AVG 2012 instead of this, at least AVG doesn't slow down the computer, plus Spyware Doctor shouldn't be even LABELED as an anti-spyware application, plus, it acts like spyware, thanks a lot, I never tried this program, but I heard the older versions are better, but this is just utter crap right here, whoever makes this, please change it back to the way it was instead of just like acting like a rogue anti-spyware program, like Spysheriff, we all know how much of an obvious FAKE that is.
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"Scamware Doctor"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
There aren't any
Cons
Everything. They expect you to think this helps your computer when in all reality it screws up your whole system.
Summary
basically the worst product ever. comes with a lot of computers. Screws it up. Never download this!
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"In additiona to the various problems above I was (cons)"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
The last program I used from PCT was the AV, and that was only because it seemed to be the only way to have a restore point set pretty much automatically. I have read somewhere MS does this, but, and I could easily be missing something (no expert here), this only happens when certain program load, if they have that feature.
Cons
told by PCT that they were bought by Symantec. Norton is very picky (perhaps with good reason) about who they play with, and when PCT used to have some half decent programs, they now get kicked off by Norton! PC Tools actually sent me some odd program that made me call in. I like to have some extra programs to check others becasue I have concluded that a. Some do not work at all B. Some have some features but not others that work and C. I have found a couple that I used for years, or are new, from eons of research$, that when check against each other seem quite close, and they work with Norton (NIS). I won't mention other names, becuase of FOL (Fear Of Lawers) syndrome! This is something more deeply entrenched into our society the more I think about it, and through experience. Bad descisions are made, at all levels of society due just to this malfunction. Win/Loss/Damages not relevant here, just staggering fees, which often crush the "Winner".
Summary
Some OS seem "cleaner" than others, but without programming knowledge, especially since GUI and the Internet (I worked with a retired Western Electric programmer setting up a Real Estate Managment system in the late 70's a few meters from huge mainframes which we plugged into by actual telephone on a DEC printer. That was it at the start and we flew into the 80' like a rocket. Then one day we found ourselves, in the second stage, on 4 8" floppy disks. Since he wrote sequentially this was like going from the Autobahn to the back roads. Our 1st WP was WordStar, which I didn't even realize was alivein 2000 or so, but read somewhere that the Creator's assistant "ported it" to Windews, I presume so it not be threat to Woid. On another totally off topic subject how is it that some programs can copy the "ribbon" with no apparent backlash? I hope Mac stays around, not that I'm a big fan, but for A. Competition and B. I haven't hit a better all in one source dictionary than what they have. I'm going through withdrawal after the LCD blew on the iMac all in one (Terrible design). Not worth fixing unless you have the tools and skill, maybe, even with everything else fines inside. I see I have 15,000 charachters left (you may want to shotren that!) si, in the spirit of saving money whay has Intel even bothered making a graphics card all these years. Most people, who know even a little (and I include myself here) will upgrade ($$$) to Nvida or ATI, and they own Nvidia! I've concluded on the cards from recent reading that each have different strengths, so I thinks the best solution is one of each! Now the upgrade path is altered gain, with one (At least I have only seen one) AMD set with NO BIOS. Bravo. At the same time we seem to have hit what call the Pentium 11/111 scenario with Ivy League arriving before the Sandy Bridge is fully built. That's tech I guess. I remember opening the box to a P11 when the P111 came blazing along and, if I recall, lasted for some time. I've seen Linux do some amazing things, but what's going on there? Next year I'll use all 15,000 charachters!
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"Good but it's not as advertised"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
It's fast
Provides easy to see results page
AccuracyCons
It's not a free to try as posted on download.com. I downloaded it and installed it. Ran it and it came back with results showing minimal issues. But when I told it to fix the problems found it said I needed to pay money. Definitely not a 30 day free trial. Should have been labeled correctly. I wanted to see it work in comparison to the program I currently use and it can't do the job without paying money for proof of performance. A joke.
Summary
Good program if you buy it first - maybe. But to label it a free trial when it does not out perform a competing product that I have already paid for and does not provide different results is a joke.
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"What once was isn't anymore."
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
It used to be a good program that was very capable.
Cons
It USED to be a good program that was very capable.
Blue Screen of death on a daily basis, verified cause to be PCTcore.sys and PCTSD.sys.
Updates do not seem to be well tested. 4 times in the past 3 years an update has caused my computer to slow to unusable. Verified culprit by disabling PC Tools.Summary
For three years I have been a loyal customer of Spyware Doctor plus anti-virus. What started out as a great option to Norton has now become nothing more than a system hog. It isn't that the program uses an excess of memory or CPU, it doesn't use an extraordinary amount amount of either. It just slows your computer down to unusable speeds.
I have a fast CPU, lots of memory and fast hard drives. There is no reason why my system should run this slowly. At times I can't even double click anything because the system is running so slow that it won't recognized a double click.
I will be changing to another malware/anti-virus program and PCtools has lost a customer.
Customer support leaves a lot to be desired as well. After initial contact they will put you on an email chain that they may or may not answer in a timely manner. It took 3 days to get a response after their first attempt to solve my Blue Screen halts and then were indignant when I told them I didn't trust I would receive a timely manner.
PC Tools has gone downhill in the past few years and they need to turn things around before the entire world gets the idea that their product is not just less than satisfactory, it does more to slow down the system than any malicious files do. -
"Don't do it! Kills everything - ESPECIALLY THE CPU!!!"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
It seems to stop everything - right down to the CPU
Cons
I bought and paid for PC Tools Spyware Doctor / AntiSpyware, etc. and their Performance module - a combined $70-$80 for the package. And between them they messed up everything on my system - my browser, my Adobe Reader, my startup time and they brought my CPU to a crawl. Everything was locking up. I uninstalled them both and then I had to do a scan disk and defrag. Now I have minimal protection again, but my laptop runs like a formula racer again. Don't bother with their stuff.
Summary
Don't download the free version because you won't get something for nothing and definitely don't pay for it because then you'll really be upset.
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"Doctor for got the Hippocratic Oath"
Version: Spyware Doctor 8.0
Pros
Cool sounding name.
Better than nothing? Maybe.
Was good four or five year ago.Cons
Setup takes FOREVER. Big, slow and glitchy.
Very dictatorial. Like a little Mussolini.
False positives for days. After a scan, pay them & they'll fix your three real threats, plus the 794 made up ones.
Made by "PC Tools".
They never met a credit card number they didn't like.Summary
Worst, an iLivid Download Manager loaded "SPYWARE DOCTOR" to my system -- no choice, it just goes with no 'cancel' button -- that sets up an iLivid toolbar to track your browsing habits, and sets your homepage to searchqu/40. Not just so you can try it out searchqu to see how you like it, but forever. Change your homepage & it changes back. Revo Uninstaller could not uninstall iLivid. I tried to delete the protected files, and it tried to uninstall Malwarebytes, PCT's hated enemy. Surprising, malwarebytes didn't help me much. Superantispyware caught it as an "unwanted software launcher' or something like that. While this went on, Spyware Doctor itself bacially tried to take over my PC like it owned the place, making decisions (bad ones) without consulting me. I Revo Uninstalled the crap out of it. No more "PC Tools" stuff for me!
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