Spyware program

[Hazelnut 7201]

Three years ago I started using pcTools Spy Doctor with Norton to keep my system (XP) operation smoothly. A year ago I upgraded Norton and it didn't like Spy Doctor, so I removed Spy Doctor. I have ran Norton alone for a year now and my computer is starting to slow down. I am thinking about removing Norton and switching to pcTools Spy Doctor w/anti-virus. Has anyone had any luck with Spy Doctor w/anti-virus?

Thank you,

[samskip]

Three years ago I started using pcTools Spy Doctor with Norton to keep my system (XP) operation smoothly. A year ago I upgraded Norton and it didn't like Spy Doctor, so I removed Spy Doctor. I have ran Norton alone for a year now and my computer is starting to slow down. I am thinking about removing Norton and switching to pcTools Spy Doctor w/anti-virus. Has anyone had any luck with Spy Doctor w/anti-virus?

Thank you,

Norton can be a pain, and the only reason Norton told you to remove it is because they wan't you to use their product and no one else's. Makes sense right? lol

I hated Norton for that and their software slowed down my PC as well. I now use a laptop which is not mine, and is leased to me via a university. However I've had experience with the Spy Doctor/Anti-Virus package. It appears to be a solid performer and will help free up some memory when compared with Norton. You can trust it.

I have talked with Network IT Security majors on campus and they like the new Spy Doctor as well. It's worth the $30. Just run that and don't try and run multiple software suites at once. No running AVG & Spy Doctor at the same time, it will only slow things up and won't cover you too terribly much more.

However, I still reccommend a quality spyware scanner like Ad-Aware and Spybot to be run once every week or two. Different spyware softwares sometimes will pick up stuff other software missed. However, just use them as scanners, you don't need anything more than spy doctor to have 'monitoring security' that automatically handles threats.

I laugh at my father, hes in his 50's.... " I don't think this thing is working, it never finds anything! "(referring to AV)

I just shake my head and say, "That's not a bad thing!"

[Ol'Dawg]

I ran Norton system works and had nothing but trouble. Now I run AVG free ware.
I have to defrag, and clean browser history often. Like once a week. But the last time I
went to defrag, I got a popup that told me, it needed 15% to defrag, and I only
had 10%. Guess I need to get rid of a bunch of unused "STUFF".. My laptop, has been
carried in the big truck for my mapping programs, My daughters loaded it down
with their programs, My wife has recipes on it......Maybe just time for another
laptop. Wife and girls have a new desktop to play with...Ha ha ha
Later..........I'm the Ol'dawg

[skeeter]

the only and i mean only spy ware that is worth using is a free one called spy bot. i have used it and it works by far better than any other. and it is free with free updates. my Friend has a computer shop here in town and he uses it to fix his customers computers.

[indiejeep]

You should also look into Windows One Care. It is a comprehensive software package from Microsoft itself.

[icemanrrc]

Have used just about all of the best spyware blockers/removers out there. For free, you can get Spybot. It removes spyware but does NOT block it. You can use Spyware Blaster in conjunction with it. Spyware Blaster blocks spyware but does Not remove it. These two together do a fair job.

The best I have seen is Spy Sweeper which blocks and removes spyware. It has caught many more spies that others over looked that was slowing my computer down. I purchased mine brand new on Ebay for under $15. I also have Norton Antivirus and it does fine with it with no conflicts.

[busman]

anybody ever try system mechanic proffesional.???

[Bozo]

You should also look into Windows One Care. It is a comprehensive software package from Microsoft itself.

What a difference three years makes. Since then, Windows Vista has been delayed again and again as Microsoft continuously stripped away key features. And that antivirus subscription service? Pulled from Vista, it began life as MSN OneCare back when MSN was still the hub around which most of Microsoft's online products and services were introduced. In late 2005, however, Microsoft gathered much of MSN into its Windows Division and relaunched the various products and services it had been working on under the Windows Live umbrella. So MSN OneCare became Windows OneCare Live, briefly, and then Windows Live OneCare, in keeping with the branding used for the other Windows Live offerings.

There's been a bit of confusion about what Windows Live OneCare--hereafter referred to simply as OneCare--really is. Microsoft describes it as an automatically self-updating PC care service that encompasses security features such as antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall, as well as PC tuning features like backup, disk defragmentation, and so on. What makes OneCare unique is that it essentially provides many of the centrally-managed IT administrative functionality one might expect in a corporate environment, but to home users. But instead of providing a human administrator, Microsoft provides an Internet-based service that works continually and automatically and is always up to date. You only deal with OneCare, per se, when something goes wrong. And if something really goes wrong, Microsoft is providing support via phone, email, or Web chat.

Also, OneCare is a subscription service for which you must pay a yearly fee. This alone differentiates it from most Windows Live products and services, most of which are free and ad-driven. Too, it's worth mentioning that one key part of OneCare's functionality, anti-spyware, is actually provided via loose integration with Windows Defender (see my review), Microsoft's free anti-spyware application.

[PA629]

Have used just about all of the best spyware blockers/removers out there. For free, you can get Spybot. It removes spyware but does NOT block it. You can use Spyware Blaster in conjunction with it. Spyware Blaster blocks spyware but does Not remove it. These two together do a fair job.

The best I have seen is Spy Sweeper which blocks and removes spyware. It has caught many more spies that others over looked that was slowing my computer down. I purchased mine brand new on Ebay for under $15. I also have Norton Antivirus and it does fine with it with no conflicts.

I also used to run Spy Sweeper with Norton and had no problems. Currently using McAfee with Spy Sweeper, same results.

[Phaze91460]

A note on Norton AntiVirus. My father worked in security for the federal govt. Norton is all they use. The reason is that in order for an AV product to work you have to have ppl developing detection, blocking, removal tools and keep it updated. Norton has the best virus dept bar none. When FBI and other internet enforcement divisions find threats, Norton gets um.

I have used several. MacAfee is very invasive on running programs and is a huge memory hog.

AVG lets too much through.

Ad-Aware and Spybot are both good products that do what they say they will.

I have had no problems with Norton conflicting with other protection products.

[bullet]

This my not be the problem with your computer, but XP will slow down over time. It is a problem with the software.

[Pro-Tech]

You need to call our shop and ask for Digital Dave. He is our PC mechanic and uses AVG for all our customers. He also installs one-click maintenance too.

[TP-272]

Spy Sweeper by Webroot Software is one that I have found works the best, and uses the least amount of resources. When I admined a few 50-100 station networks, we got a site license install of it, and it simply works so much better than just about anything else out there. We popped for the version that included virus protection (by Sophos) and it was a nice all in one package.

I'd steer far clear of Ad-aware, and most of the freebies... I've had nothing but problems with them slowing down computers, or themselves running their own version of adware. One of the worst freebies ever is Zone Alarm firewall... complete and utter junk. Typically slows computers down by 10-20%. When I started working for my most recent employer, they had that installed on most desktops, and wondered why even MS Office was so slow... not to mention the accounting software... recommended they remove that one piece of software, and it really made a big difference.

[Shaft]

I absolutely love Spysweeper. My first experience came when I got one of those free after rebates deals from Best Buy on black Friday. I bought a computer from an old co-worker and he had complained about it running slow. I ran Norton Systemworks (which I still use) and it got rid of a few viruses and about 20 traces of spyware. Then I ran Spysweeper on it and it found nearly 1,200 traces of spyware and adware. That computer smoked after that. Some of those other programs mentioned are good, but Spysweeper has been really good to me.

[cobra jet]

I had Spysweeper for a few years. It did a good job but read at that time that Zonealarm was rated better. It does take some time to teach the software what your particular security standards are, but once done has worked flawlessly.

Norton is next to impossible to completely remove by normal means. Had it once, never again!

[Av8r1]

AVG Anti-Spyware and Antivirus work great.....also CC cleaner.

[PONY EXPRESS]

Heck we have used Norton software for years with zero problems.We would always wait until it was tax time to buy the software after mail in rebates.
This time we bought Norton 360 and was surprised when box came with 3 subscriptions at what use to be for 1 in price .Needless to say with Windows XP it has been trouble free the last 8 months . We always have our computer defrag the hard drive and it appears to run smoothly. Always seems to catch spy ware on scans but I never get any viruses which is the main thing. I m sure it is slowing computer down but my 3.4GHZ that is 3 years old now. Might be time to upgrade to a new Dell Quad core desktop to get back to THE FUTURE ...
[Please login or register to view this link]

[wood eye]

I use Norton and have for many years. It has been good and has not caused any problems. A couple things people need to know with any AV, spyware or adware products. They are only as good as the info they have at the time. One day Norton may find a new virus and have a fix/stop for it and the next day it may be someone else that finds and fixes a new virus so no matter which one you use you may still get a virus. The definitions change daily, sometimes hourly so you can't expect any program to fix everything all the time.
Spybot S&D is the free version. Lavasoft Ad Aware is the free ad version. Spybot is good at finding spyware but not adware. Adaware is good at finding adware but not spyware. Both of these can show problems if you have the XP auto restore turned on and if you are running both adaware and spybot at the same time you may find that each one will find problems with the other. Both are good for what they do.
What ever you use, run a scan often and if you have it, set up an auto scan. With Norton this runs in the background. If you have auto protect turn that on also. A defrag should only be needed if you do a lot of data entry/changes or load and unload a lot of programs. Otherwise a defrag should only be needed once every month or two and should not take too long.
Any why that's what I have found in my many years as a computer tech.
wood eye

[Trouble]

SpyChecker.com has lots of freeware that won't foul up your system like Norton. I ended up having to format my harddrive because of Norton....JUNK!!!!