Personally, I think it's a fine antispyware solution. It has active protection, and, it scans extremely fast.

What do you guys think?

Hi Raymond...I haven't used PestPatrol. It gets so-so ratings on review sites such as this one:

Anti-Spyware Review

It's not highly rated for the really dangerous adware out there, but if you keep your surfing safe and keep your system updated and protected, you should be able to stay out of trouble.

As for liking/not liking products, it's an individual's preference in the end.

HKEd - You mention an Anti-Spyware Review site. I think anyone using it should be aware that its purpose is to sell software. I think it's not bad of its sort, and has useful information. Its bias toward selling shows, for example, in its not listing any free anti-spyware programs. Neither Spybot S&D nor the free version of Ad-Aware are mentioned. Also, one or two of the programs it reviews are on Eric Howes list of rogue and suspect anti-spyware (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm).


I think of PestPatrol as a bit like a Swiss army knife -- useful for many things, often not as good as tools intended for a specific job, but worth having. For those who would like to add some of its capabiliy without adding expense, there is a free version, which detects malware as thoroughly as the paid version, but (unlike the paid version) doesn't remove it. It is an "evaluation" version, but you can evaluate forever. This version is getting harder to find on the PestPatrol (now Computer Associates) website. I think it is now the "complete update" on http://www.pestpatrol.com/Support/V4_Updates.asp. PestPatrol is often stated to give many false positives, and that agrees with my experience.

What about Webroot Spy Sweeper?

QUOTE

if you keep your surfing safe and keep your system updated and protected, you should be able to stay out of trouble.

This is essential. I personally use AVG (not well rated), SpywareGuard and SpywareBlaster, with an old version of ZoneAlarm. All are freeware, and with safe surfing habits, it's good enough. Note that Trusted and non-trusted sites settings are also important.

I also use to run AdAware SE and Spybot S&D at least once a week, or if I suspect something.

btw, e-mail safe habits are mostly important. I added a "visualisation" button to my OE, and never "view" a suspected e-mail (sometimes using right-click to take a look inside without opening it)

But I thought you can only get viruses by actually download the attached files in an e-mail? Not just by looking at it... right?

Wrong... Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad scripts embedded in mail, even with no attachments. Not specially viruses, that can be on a .jpg image, but spywares, keyloggers, address grabbers and so on.

e-mail are the best malware propagator.

Oh, wow.

If you are serious about protecting yourself from e-amil virus and spam, get Mailwasher. No problems anymore.

To continue this,

1) If you get an e-mail from someone you do not know, delete it
2) If you get an e-mail from someone you do know and it has an attachment, save it and scan it

I personally do not open anything without scanning it unless I have sent it to myself (Work>home, home>work)

Also, referencing Ironbender's comments about AdAware & Spybot I also use SpywareBlaster. It catches alot on the incoming Here
Most Important: UPDATE EVERYTHING WEEKLY!!!

Have a great day

Chris