Spyware Blockers

Spyware Terminator Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:40:37 +0000

Highlights:

Spyware Terminator will quickly scan your PC for spyware and offers protection in real time. It scans, detects and removes numerous virus threats from your PC and offers multi language support. Millions have used Spyware Terminator. It has won multiple awards and has been rated very highly by industry experts. It is a free program and is comparable to paid versions that are on the market.

Features:

• Free updates can be downloaded and installed automatically.
• Free scans can be scheduled on a regular basis anytime you wish.
• Free integration of an open source anti-virus option, which offers a higher level of protection for your PC.
• Free support available through their public forum or e-mail.
• Free license for home or business use.

New features of Spyware Terminator offers different levels from basic to advanced; the basic level is designed for inexperienced users and decides the best settings for the system. The advanced level is designed for those more experienced and allows them to select all actions.

Costs:

• Freeware.

Operating System Requirements:
• Windows Vista – 64 bit Operating System
• Windows Vista – 32 bit Operating System
• Windows XP – 32 bit Operating System
• Windows 2000

Final Recommendation:

Spyware Terminator is a decent program that offers free protection for your PC. During our testing it performed at a less than par level and actually missed a few infections that our top spyware program, XoftSpy SE, found and removed. I guess you really do get what you pay for!

Spy Sweeper 2010 Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:31:55 +0000

Highlights:

Spy Sweeper 2010 installs quickly and is easy to use. It offers custom options and a streamlined security console. It is optimized for efficiency and speed and will work in the background to reduce the impact to your PC’s performance. PC Magazine quote: “The best antispyware we’ve ever seen.”

• Spy Sweeper 2010 is now compatible with Windows 7.
• Offers award winning technology.
• Is trusted by millions of users worldwide/
• Continuous monitoring will keep your PC safe.

Features:

• Spy Sweeper 2010 offers real time protection. The newest version stops threats like Trojans from installing on your PC.
• Spyware buries its files deep within your system. Spy Sweeper finds and destroys them quickly using rootkit discovery technology.
• Reduced impact on your PC’s performance. Spy Sweeper is optimized for efficiency. It is fast and will scan in the background or even after hours to reduce the impact on performance.
• Offers a Gamer mode to ensure that Spy Sweeper will not interrupt your game play or movie watching.
• Spy Sweeper automatically installs updates ensuring your PC is always current and protected.

Costs:

• Publishers price is $29.95

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 – 64 bit Operating System
• Windows 7 – 32 bit Operating System
• Windows Vista – Service Pack 1 – 64 bit Operating System
• Windows Vista – Service Pack 1 -32 bit Operating System
• Windows XP – Service Pack 1,2 and 3 – 32 bit Operating System
• Minimum 300 MHz processor – 1 GHz recommended for Vista
• Minimum 256 Ram – 2GB recommended for Vista
• 100 MB Hard Drive space available
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher
• Firefox 2.0 or higher

Final Recommendation:

Spy Sweeper was developed predominantly for home use so it is very simple to use. It offers easy to understand directions and has convenient tabs for all its functions. You do not need to be a computer geek to understand and use its interface. It offers an automatic alert when it is time to update. After each scan, it creates an easy to understand report suggesting which threats should be removed. It will also alert you if an application is trying to install a threat on your PC.

Webroot Spy Sweeper 2010 now offers convenient online backup so you can access your files from remote locations.
Some users want spyware software to automatically protect their PCs while others want to do their own scan manually, reviewing the results and determining what is currently threatening their system. Spy Sweeper can accomplish both. It will scan in real time or for the hands on user; it will run under custom settings.

Although Spy Sweeper 2010 did an excellent job, we have a hard time recommending it when XoftSpy SE costs the same and comes with a much smoother scan engine, better customer support and the same low price.

SpywareBlaster Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:23:30 +0000

Highlights:

SpywareBlaster is very powerful and will help protect your system from adware, spyware, and hijackers. All it takes to have your PC infected is to browse the internet. It is designed to protect your PC without interference and works alongside your other programs.

Features:

• SpywareBlaster protects your PC without slowing you down.
• It is designed not to use up any of your PC’s precious memory.
• SpywareBlaster is designed to work with the other software on your PC.
• Simple to use. When you enable it, your PC will be protected from thousands of threats and unwanted programs.
• Supports and works well with multiple browsers.

Costs:

• Freeware. For $10 a year, you will receive automatic file updates and tech support.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP
• Windows 2000
• Windows 98
• Windows ME
• Windows NT

Final Recommendation:

SpywareBlaster allows you to block cookies, all Flash content, and create ActiveX blocks that you can customize based on your requirements. It also enables you to create backups of encrypted files.

One of the best features is the guides and tutorials designed to help you understand its functions completely. The four tools included offer database updates, system overviews, tools, and protection.

With the free basic version, you will receive protection from a wide variety of threats quickly and efficiently.

SpywareBlaster allows you to create a snapshot of your PC’s system for quick recovery in case of a major attack. It has an easy uncluttered interface and for $10 a year you will receive tech support and automatic definition file updates. If you opt not to pay this amount, updates can be received manually. Although SpywareBlaster is a good product, we have a hard time recommending it. You would be much better off with a program such as XoftSpy Se.

Spyware Doctor Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:59:41 +0000

Highlights:

Spyware Doctor 2010 features an advanced technology that will only alert you if it detects a true spyware on your PC. It will not bombard you with useless messages every time you want to install a new program or change your settings. Messages like these are not only annoying they can become confusing to the point of frustration. Spyware Doctor 2010 works behind the scenes constantly offering protection to your PC.

It offers quick scanning and several tools to stop malware before it infects your PC. The program also comes with an option to automatically scan at start up and a useful gaming mode. Although the free version cannot remove threats, it does offer real time protection for your PC.

Everything you need to use this program is just a click away. It runs smoothly and very quickly cleans your PC from unwanted threats.

Download a FREE Trial of Spyware Doctor NOW!

Features:

• Spyware Doctor 2010 offers improved detection technology.
• Identifies and removes adware, spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans, and other threats.
• Protects your PC from phishing attempts, rogue scare tactics, and other web-based attacks.
• Site Guard blocks you from downloading threats to your PC or from visiting unsafe websites.
• Cookie Guard will remove advertising and tracking cookies automatically.
• Browser Guard stops downloads from fake websites.
• Automatically installs updates to your PC protecting you from the latest threats.
• Free support.
• Experts and Editors around the globe recommend this program.
• Automatically protects your PC.

Costs:

• Free trial available. Publisher’s price is posted at $29.99.

Operating System Requirements:

Final Recommendation:

Spyware Doctor detects and removes adware, spyware, Trojans, and keyloggers from your PC. You need a spyware removal program to protect you and your family from identity theft and slow computer performance which are possible consequences of spyware that has infected your PC.

When you realize that your personal information like banking and credit card details, personal e-mails, and even your browsing habits are stored on your PC you cannot risk going online without a quality spyware program like Spyware Doctor.

It is updated continuously to eliminate any threat your PC may encounter. Its scanner reviews over three million types of spyware. It proactively protects your PC from spyware threats and offers multiple options.

Download a FREE Trial of Spyware Doctor NOW!

STOPzilla Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:48:57 +0000

Highlights:

STOPzilla not only detects but also blocks and removes malicious infections like adware, spyware, and Trojans in real time. It also offers a rootkit remover, protects your PC from phishing attacks, and features a pop-up blocker. It keeps track of the threats that it finds and logs them for later use. You can restore to a previous setting if you accidentally remove something that affects programs functionality.

Download a FREE Trial of STOPzilla Now!

Features:

• Designed to detect, block, and quarantine adware and spyware in real time.

• Updates automatically to ensure your PC is protected around the clock.

• Blocks all phishing attacks and protects against pop-ups.

• Clears cookies and history from your PC.

• Can be set up to scan automatically or on demand.

• Free customer support through toll free calls, live chat, and e-mail.

Costs:

• Try it free for 15 days. Publisher’s price is posted at $9.95.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 – 64 bit Operating System

• Windows 7 – 32 bit Operating System

• Windows Vista – 64 bit Operating System

• Windows Vista – 32 bit Operating System

• Windows 2000

• Windows XP

• Windows 98

• Windows ME

Final Recommendation:

STOPzilla becomes a protective shield and offers real time malware removal. A powerful solution blocks spyware in its tracks. From initial boot-up, it requires limited interaction and allows you to surf the internet without worrying about adware and spyware infecting your PC. They offer extensive support online or through e-mail, chat or toll-free calls.

Xoftspy SE Review

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:42:59 +0000

XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 Review

Highlights:

If you are looking for an easy way to combat spyware, XoftSpySe 7.0 is for you. It is a well-known product and is trusted anti-spyware software. It is designed to remove keyloggers, malware, Trojans, spyware, adware, and those annoying pop-up generators from your PC.

Click Here to Download a Free Trial of XoftSpy SE

Features:

Thoroughly scans all your files and folders, running processes and registry removing malicious code, adware, spyware, Trojans and hijackers from your PC.
Allows you to keep unwanted programs from opening at startup.
Continually installs updates to assure that your PC is always protected.
Allows you to schedule automatic scans of your system.
Very easy to use.

Costs:

A Free trial is available. The publisher’s price posted for this software is $39.97. $29.97 (w/ $10 off Code)

Minimum System Requirements for XoftSpySE:

The minimum level required for this software is listed below. Higher system specs will improve responsiveness.

Initial installation requires 190 MB of free hard disk space.
Must have an internet connection.
Requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.
Must have administrator privileges to install.

Operating System Requirements:

Windows 7 – 64 bit Operating System
Ram – 2 GB Memory
Processor Speed – 1 GHZ

Windows 7 – 32 bit Operating System
Ram – 1 GB Memory
Processor Speed – 1 GHZ

Windows Vista – 64 bit Operating System
Home Premium Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions.
Service Pack – 2
Ram – 1 GB Memory
Processor Speed – 1 GHZ

Windows Vista – 32 bit Operating System
Home Premium Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions.
Service Pack – 2
Ram – 1 GB Memory
Processor Speed – 1 GHZ

Windows Vista – 64 bit Operating System
Home Basic Edition
Service Pack – 2
Ram – 512 MB
Processor Speed – 800 MHz

Windows Vista – 32 bit Operating System
Home Basic Edition
Service Pack – 2
Ram – 512 MB
Processor Speed – 800 MHz

Windows XP – 32 bit Operating System
Service Pack – 3
Ram – 256 MB Memory
Processor Speed – 300 MHz

Final Recommendation:

If you surf the internet or share your PC with others then you definitely need anti-spyware. We recommend XoftSpySE especially if you share files like pictures or music with others.

XoftSpySE Anti-Spyware 7.0 is the most advanced application available for removing spyware; no one will be able to spy on your internet activities again when you install this program on your PC.

We found that XoftSpySE is the best solution for protecting your PC from malware and keeping your data safe. In our testing, we found it to scan faster and update quickly. We found they had an excellent customer service staff who responded quickly and professionally. It is simply one of the best on the market.

If you are not sure you need this unprecedented protection, XoftSpySE offers a free scanner to determine if your PC is infected.

Download a Free Trial of XoftSpy SE NOW!

Which Spyware Remover Should You Trust?

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:58:02 +0000

Spyware remover developers have gotten very creative in the names they are calling their products…Barracuda, Spyware Defender, and Titanium Spyware. A creative name and skillfully mastered marketing program does not make a good spyware program however.

As a savvy and well informed consumer, I am most impressed by the spy ware’s ability to remove the malicious files from my computer. After a considerable amount of research and the unfortunate situation of having purchased many spyware remover programs, I have come to a conclusion; most spyware programs do not live up to the claims they advertise. I have installed at least ten spyware programs on my system in the past 9 years. Maybe you have experienced a similar situation.

Your computer slows to a snail crawl. As you reboot one final time, you cross your fingers as you try to access the internet in the hopes of downloading a spyware removal tool, but no luck. The spyware has completely taken over your entire system and you are faced with paying someone to reformat the entire system. This was such a regular occurrence that I learned not to keep any important files on my computer. Thank goodness, memory sticks have come down in price or I would have gone broke buying CDs for backing up by files.

Each time I have my computer serviced, I download the latest spyware program that is recommended at the time. The program works great for about 6 months and then like clockwork, it comes across spyware that it is no equipped to remove. This lasts for a few more months until the system becomes unresponsive and the entire process starts again. Really?

At my wits end, I embarked on a spyware research project, designed to educate me on the various programs out there and the limitations of each. The results were clear, the majority of spyware programs were well knows because of major PR and marketing campaigns, not because of their effectiveness. In order to gauge the effectiveness of a spyware program, you need to speak to the people who are using these programs. I am one of those people.

After reading hundreds of customer reviews, it is clear that Paretologic’s XoftspySE is a leader, if not the most effective, spyware program on the market today. It has been protecting 20 million satisfied customers, one of which is me!

Since installing the program, I have not had even one problem with spyware. The program works like a well oiled machine. I don’t even notice that it is there, but know it is there because of how well it is working.

The Best Anti-Spyware Programs

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:50:46 +0000

Spyware is software that installs on your computer without your knowledge. Its purpose is to gather data, monitor what you do and pass the information on to others. Spyware may also steal personal details, display pop-up adverts, direct you to unfamiliar websites, change your PC’s behavior and cause poor performance, system corruption and security problems. A study found that 88% of consumer PCs had some type of uninvited program installed with an average of 24.5 instances of spyware on each computer.

Spyware doesn’t just happen. You normally get it along with some other application that you download and install. So the message is that you shouldn’t download software from sources you don’t know and must not open email attachments unless you know who they’re from. Trust no-one.

If your PC becomes infected with spyware, you need to get rid of it straight away. There are manual means to do this but they are fraught with danger and give no certainty of success, especially since many machines have multiple infections. The best way is to use an anti-spyware program that is developed specifically for the purpose of getting rid of spyware. However, be careful what you get because, although some are very good, others can be ineffective and a few will make matters worse.

Anti-spyware programs are designed to identify spyware on your computer and remove it. You should therefore run an application frequently, preferably as a scheduled task at set times, to ensure your PC remains free of infection.

An anti-spyware program works by scanning your computer, going through the Windows Registry, any running processes and all files and folders on local disk drives. You can generally set it to run a full scan or check selected locations only. The program will look for known spyware, report what it has found and can then remove all problems from the machine.

A program will have a database of known spyware programs and will check for these on your machine. It is important, therefore, that the database is updated frequently so that a list of all current threats is available. Anti-spyware programs will usually also set protection on Internet Explorer or other browsers to prevent the browser being hijacked by spyware.

There are plenty of reliable anti-spyware programs around and you can read independent reviews before you make your choice. Some of the best ones are Spyware Doctor, Ad-Aware and Spy Sweeper. We particularly like XoftspySE, which is an easy-to-use and effective scanner. You can give it a try for free by downloading the trial version from Paretologic HERE. This will identify and resolve your immediate problems but it’s a time-limited version so you’ll need to buy the full version to get on-going protection. However, it’s a small price to pay to be free of spyware.

How to Remove Spyware

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:29:49 +0000

Spyware is a form of malware that can be installed on your computer without your explicit knowledge. If you download programs from places you can’t trust, you may be infested with it. The spyware is a small application you probably won’t be able to notice, but it will essentially allow people to “watch” your computer and see all the information, including the personal information, you put in the system as you go about your business online. Not only does it put your information and identity at risk, but it can also make your computer slow down considerably, causing difficulty when you try to use it. Overall, spyware is an incredibly frustrating, and potentially costly, problem.

Getting Rid of Spyware

Though it is possible to get rid of spyware on your own, it is not recommended for novice computer users to do. Those who have experience working with computers will be able to remove spyware manually easier than those who don’t know how to use a computer very well. Removing spyware can be done through uninstalling affected programs, deleting infected files, and editing the registry. Only experienced computer users should attempt editing the Windows registry, because a mistake there could render the computer useless, effectively destroying the Windows operating system.

Top Spyware Removal Programs

When it comes to spyware removal, there are several programs on the market designed to assist novice computer users with getting it off of their computer systems. The top three spyware removal programs are: XoftSpy SE, Spyware Doctor, and Ad Aware SE. All three of these programs offer a free scan before you purchase to ensure your system is clean, or to pinpoint the location of infected files. These programs are all top of the line when it comes to their ability to detect and remove spyware quickly. It is important to make sure you are using a quality spyware removal program, because some forms of malware will present themselves as a removal program. When an unsuspecting individual sees that his computer has been infected and the solution is right before his eyes, he goes to purchase the program to fix the problem, only to find himself in the middle of an identity theft situation when he realizes his credit card has been compromised and his computer is acting worse than ever before. Research your spyware removal programs, and only use one that is trusted and has positive reviews.

XoftSpy SE

Of the top three programs we have already mentioned, XoftSpy SE is the best. In our tests to see how well the program detects and removes spyware, we determined this program was able to detect and remove all the files that were infected. It targets and removes: spyware, adware, popup generators, keyloggers and more. With real time protection, the program not only cleans your system, but helps to prevent future programs of this malicious nature from making it on to your system again.

No matter your level of expertise when using a computer, it is important to realize how serious of an issue spyware can be. All individuals who use a computer connected to the Internet on a regular basis should have some form of spyware protection installed and active on their systems at all times.

Best Anti-Spyware Software

Chris Yost, M.C.S.E. C.C.I.E. — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:57:26 +0000

Spyware has become a major threat home users as well as businesses. Anti-spyware software, thus, have become an important part of security packages. Unlike a virus or a worm, spyware does not spread over a network but is usually delivered in disguise to a target audience. It can steal information such as a person’s internet habits, passwords and even sensitive information such as credit card numbers. Anti-spyware software helps protect users from this threat.

There are basically two ways in which an anti-spyware software protects users: real time or detection and removal. Real time protection is more like an active protection as it prevents the installation of spyware on the system. It scans the incoming data from the network for tell-tale signs of spyware. As soon as it detects spyware, the spyware is blocked. The other type of anti-spyware software searches for installed spyware and removes if found. It scans the windows registry, system files as well as user files. The user is presented with an option of deleting or moving the spyware to quarantine. This type of anti-spyware software can be scheduled to do system scans or can also be initialized manually.

Anti-spyware software can also be classified according to their method of spyware detection. While many software scan for spyware by matching signature, like anti-virus programs search for viruses, the newer ones use ‘observation’. What these do is that they monitor certain important files of the OS and report if any software tries to modify these. In this way these anti-spyware software do not only rely on updates but can even protect form new and unknown threats. The only problem with these software is that they can’t differentiate between a good program and spyware and leave it to the user to decide whether the changes to the system files were invoked by a legitimate software.

There are many variations of anti-spyware software available today. Most do the basic job of protecting from the majority of known spyware well, however the level of protection provided by these software vary. Some anti-spyware software are actually spyware, and they can do a lot of harm. One must be careful with what anti-spyware software is being downloaded. The banner advertisements on websites should never be trusted and anti-spyware software from only known companies should be installed. Wikipedia has a list of such ‘rogue’ anti-spyware software which are actually malicious code.

Some of the better anti-spyware software includes those made by popular anti-virus software companies. Grisoft, makers of AVG anti-virus software have come up with spyware protection for their anti-virus users. Windows Defender is a free anti-spyware tool from Microsoft for its Windows users and comes bundled with Windows Vista and Windows Seven. AdAware SE has been one of the earliest players in the anti-spyware software category and is quite competent software. Spyware doctor is also a well known anti-spyware software and Spyware Doctor 2010 is its latest edition. Another very good anti-spyware software is ParetoLogic’s XoftSpySE.

In our Spyware Blockers review for 2010 XoftSpySE come out on the top. It’s long list of features as well as strong protection from spyware makes it a really competent all round anti-spyware software. It does a thorough scan of the system and include all the areas where spyware can reside. It removes all kinds of spyware including key-loggers, adware, etc. The frequent updates ensure you are protected against new threats. It also adds a Browser Helper Object to Internet Explorer to help keep the browser clean. All in all, XoftSpySE by ParetoLogic is the no. 1 anti-spyware software available today.