[Mobo]

A recent spyware software test was completed by PC world magazine in response to user complaints about the so called professional software not fulfilling ot even close to living up to billing..

The software tested was a little short of the full variety but they did do some of the more popular packages. The seven tested were MyNetProtector, NoAdware, PAL Spyware Remover, SpyAssault, SpyBlocs, Spyware Stormer, and XoftSpy.

Thier results showed as -not as effective as reputable free products such as Spybot Search & Destroy. A couple even installed new spyware.

The tests were each conducted on a freshly formatted windows xp system with all updates installed. NoAdware "removed some stuff, but it also deleted something on the hard drive so the computer couldn't reboot," . After reinstalling Windows, they sent multiple messages to NoAdware requesting a refund, which she received four months after her initial request.
The No spyware-removal utility was found to do well in the testing . SpyBlocs and PAL Spyware Remover not only failed to detect or remove any of our planted spyware, they identified legitimate parts of Windows or other applications as spyware and deleted them. SpyBlocs, for example, deleted a critical system folder where Windows stores its signed device drivers, which on some PCs might have resulted in an unrecoverable system crash. (The vendor says this was due to a bug that will be corrected in future versions.)

SpyAssault left a file called FavoriteMan, a browser hijacker listed in online spyware databases such as SpywareGuide.com. MyNetProtector installed a whopping 57 files, including 19 that attempted to make connections to the Internet--in some cases within seconds of installation. Among the programs it loaded were BargainBuddy, EZula, and PurityScan, all of which (according to SpywareGuide.com's database) display pop-up ads and change browser settings on PCs.

Our free control application, Spybot Search & Destroy, removed Registry keys for four applications, and executable and DLL files associated with five spyware apps.

With the results in they attempted to contact those malicious program producers. NoAdware could not be contacted but the Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York reported that it had received 22 complaints about the company, which is not a member of the BBB, by early October. Network Dynamics has a clean record as a member of Southern California's BBB. The BBB's complaint database contained no record of complaints for the remainder of the companies whose products were tested.


They recommende avoiding products promoted in ads that appear designed to increase your anxiety level, such as pop-up ads that look similar to Windows dialog boxes. He suggests using a combination of free spyware removers first-- Spybot and Ad-Aware SE Personal. If you continue to experience any unexpected changes to your computer system, try a commercial application such as PestPatrol, which detected all of the spyware on our test system.

Don't let marketing tactics scare you into paying for an anti-spyware product that may not do as good a job of protecting your PC as a free application. It pays to do a little homework before you punch in those credit card numbers.

I concur whole heartedly and also advise users and potential buyers
to ceck out trial versions first as well as seek advice from experienced users before the purchase..