VANITY!!paid version of Webroot Spy Sweeper vs paid version of Spyware Doctor. HELP!!!

me | 07/30/05 | Me the Computer Illiterate

[Sally'sConcerns]

Here is what Spyware Doctor found after their "complete" scan. I don't know if there is a difference in a paid for scan or not. I do know I can't utilize their removal unless I purchase the program.

Scans (basic information only):

Scan Results: scan start: 7/30/2005 6:26:56 PM scan stop: 7/30/2005 6:41:27 PM scanned items: 42257 found items: 21 found and ignored: 0 tools used: General Scanner, Process Scanner, Hosts scanner, LSP Scanner, Registry Scanner, Cookie Scanner, Browser Defaults, Favorites and ZoneMap Scanner, ActiveX Scanner, Disk Scanner

Infection Name Location Risk Tracking Cookie(s) sally@pogo[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@cgi-bin[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@nbcsandiego[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@home[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@sec1.liveperson[2].txt Medium Advertising sally@74656227[1].txt Low Tracking Cookie(s) sally@LPBofA1[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@dcs2omr9fpifwznrgv67zf9ub_7p8i[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@fileplanet[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@dcsxd61n26twkfbzjfrdz9k14_7m7b[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@insightfirst[2].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@dcsyu7ebkbydgsdqx3wfyp25r_2l6u[1].txt Medium Advertising sally@ads.addesktop[1].txt Low Tracking Cookie(s) sally@sales.liveperson[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@74613876[2].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@S0011-00-12-14-212925-43362[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@login[1].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@wfaa[2].txt Medium Tracking Cookie(s) sally@www.ladiesbingo[1].txt Medium Comet Cursor HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{1678F7E1-C422-11D0-AD7D-00400515CAAA} High Comet Cursor HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\{1678F7E1-C422-11D0-AD7D-00400515CAAA}\iexplore High

Under Spy Doctor, I'd probably allow the cookie for WFAA since it's a news site out of Dallas.

To all that respond...please, oh, please, use layman's English since I'm a complete computer nerd.

Thanks!

I currently use Webroot SpySweeper which sweeps everynight (just to be on the safe side). Matter of fact, I was so pleased with Spysweeper, I extended my renewal last month. WebrootSpysweeper hasn't caught any of the above.

Webroot Spyware:

Spyware Fingerprints Loaded: 97,295 Memory Items Inspected: 1,305 Regostry Items Inspected: 65,946 Cookie Items Inspected: 332 files/folders inspected 23,706 Items Found 0 Traces Found 0

The only alerts I've received on Spy Sweeper were: Motive SmartBridge and SBC Self Support Tool. Inc, both of which are related to my change from CableModem to SBC DSL. These 2 alerts have been coming up since I made the switch to SBC.

On Spy Sweeper I have all shields checked except for the subset of Edit IE Hijack Shield Settings. The subset falls under IE Hijack Shield.

I've tried AdAware before but it freezes up on my machine so it's no help for me.

While my son visited me last weekend for my birthday, the only program he downloaded was GoogleEarth. All other programs that may have been downloaded were done before he gave me his spare (late July 2004) since the one I'd bought bit the dust in early July 2004.

Sigh, I don't like the fact there are still Comet Cursor spyware (high risk) as well as others that SpyDoctor concludes are medium risk.

Windows XP AVG virus program as well as SBC's efforts to curtail trojans, virii, spam, etc. No firewall

My question is: Should I cancel SpySweeper and go with Spy Doctor since they seem to be able to catch more bad guys?

Oh, I chose crime as one of my Topics because it's a crime to me there are those who are able to get away with the items listed as high on SpyDoctor.

[BigFinn]

Well Sally, since I don't ever get viruses I can't help you because I don't need all those extra applications. Haven't owned anything but a MAC. Mine is 4 years old and runs like a swiss watch. And it wasn't really that much more expensive.

[pulmonq2]

You're wrong, just as I found I was wrong to think that Adaware, Spybot S&D, and Microsoft's Spyware beta would be able to clean any spyware out.

I had a major infection (my fault for being careless) a couple nights ago, and neither of those programs detected a single one of the trojan downloaders, spyware, or adware programs. Worthless.

Throw out your Spybot, Adaware, and MS Spyware. They are not at all effective against today's serious threats.

The only program that really wiped everything out once and for all was the Spyware Doctor. Spy Sweeper too was effective -- though I didn't get a subscription to remove the baddies, Spy Sweeper's active monitor stopped the hijacker programs and adware in their tracks when they tried to re-install / re-run themselves. Then I got the Doctor running, and it took care of business.

I would suggest trying Javacool Software's free programs, SpywareGuard and the SpywareBlaster you already mentioned (both, since they work as a team).

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/products.html

Though, I will say, I didn't get to see them in action, as Spy Sweeper was already installed and had the malware under control.

You may also try AVG's Anti Spyware 7.5

Though not as good as Spy Sweeper or the Doctor, it is probably one of your best bets for a free scanner... sinec it is actually effective, in contrast with the usual recommendations of Adaware and Spybot. Anyway, I had it up first, and it was catching several bad files, but couldn't detect everything.

Another one that might be very good is SUPER Anti Spyware,though again, it was installed along with the Doc and Sweeper, and really didn't have a chance to work.

My current line-up is the Spyware Doctor, Spyware Guard/Blaster, AVG, and it's twin, AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.

So far, no trace of any malware has appeared... not so much as a single pop-up.