XoftSpy

[japslongo]

Does anyone have any experience with this anti-spyware program by Pareto Logic? I have it on my comp, and it has helped me get rid of quite a bit of junk that has accumulated, but I was wondering if I should also invest in a Norton Anti-virus program. Anyone know if XoftSpy is enough to keep my comp essentially safe, or should I go out and get Norton also?

[rightcoast]

XoftSpy spent a long time on the rogue spyware list, meaning they were using using deceptive practices to get people to buy thier product, installing without users knowledge and delisting spyware apps that would pay to become a "partner". They took Ad-Aware, and rebranded it, with a less effective definition file. They have been delisted as of Dec., but that doesn't make it a "good" application, just not a criminal one.
Comments by Eric Howes, the leading authority on these applications:

"Comments: Although the relationship between these two apps (SpyBurn and the "old" XoftSpy) and Ad-aware is less straightforward, it certainly looks that they were, at the very least, "inspired" by one or another version of Ad-aware (both of which are reproduced here for comparison purposes) -- esp. the old version of XoftSpy, which was uncomfortably close to Ad-aware 6.0 in many respects. SpyBurn and the old version of XoftSpy were re-branded clones of each other, sharing both spyware reference database files (named database.db) and scan logs. * Note: SpyBurn is no longer available. In December of 2004 Paretologic released a new version of XoftSpy (version 4.0) which subtantially addressed all of our major concerns with the application. Thus, the new version of XoftSpy is not considered "rogue/suspect" anti-spyware. Screenshots are included here for reference and comparison purposes only. For more information on the new version of XoftSpy, see this note." (Note: other domains associated with XoftSpy include: adware-destroyer.com, adware-elimination.com, adwarekillers.com, adware-real-free-scan.com, adwares.net, anti-adware.net, antispywares.com, deletespyware.net, nomorespyware.net, removespyware.net, softspy.net, softwho.com, spywarebest.com, spyware-detection.net, spywareprof.com, spywarepurge.com, spywarerem.com, spywareremoval.net) [A: 6-26-04 / U: 12-7-04]

I would suggest uninstalling this program and using these 3 free programs instead, use all three in conjuction for best results:
Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

These two arre not free, but very effective as well:
Pest Patrol
http://www.ca.com/products/pestpatrol/
Webroot Spy Sweeper
http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php

Also you don't need to pay for a great anti-virus either, but you absolutely need one! I recommend these free versions, AVG tops the list though IMO:
Grisoft AVG Free
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/
Avast Free edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
BitDefender Free edition
http://www.bitdefender.com/bd/site/d...php?menu_id=21

HTH

[Lobos]

Hi japslongo

EDIT I see Right is just the quicker typer

I see they finally got off of the rogue list that's good

Lobos

[rightcoast]

We make a good team ehh?...