Spyware doctor- Your opinion needed

[traq]

I got an email notice from Spyware Doctor a few days ago, saying it was time to renew my subscription and that my card would be automatically charged. Problem is, I never ordered it in the first place - I've used Adaware before, but I don't know how Spyware Dr. got my email. And I certainly wasn't gonna wait to find out if they really had my card number, too! emailed and canceled it quick, got a confirmation back... Don't think I'll be trying them out "for real" anytime soon. Like, maybe never.

[Cyba_storm]

6 weeks ago I had the same sort of experience as FORCEMASTER2000. Random "You are infected." messages. When I hit the close button it shut the net down, took out all my net settings and give me the Spyware Doctor website as a home page. If I tied to change it I got a message saying I had no admin authority to do so. I could operate the net for 3 or 4 minutes before being kicked back to the Spyware Doctor Website.

[Dallidas]

ok then sounds like spyware doctor isnt the way to go. any other suggestions, below 40 bucks preferably

[Forcemaster2000]

I'd use lavasoft's ad-aware. It's free, updates are timely and it keeps my PC squeaky clean

[Fabio]

Emails from companies are pretty much spoofed by viruses resident on people's PC's and servers on the internet. I get spam mail from MY OWN DOMAIN where the culprit is someone's PC somewhere in the world simply has my email address in their address book and has a hidden virus that their scanner can't find / they simply don't know about / is a root kit and has avoided detection.

Hijackers that point to websites selling products are often used as a means to discredit the product offered by another manufacturer. For example... spread the virus - discredit spyware doctor then promote your own different product.

Often cloned websites are linked to where the ill informed will download the supposed solution - unknowingly getting a doctored version of a good legit program that will clean the registry and screw it - things like changing group policies on XP HE where they cannot be re-edited are common.

Recently a virus attacked 3 of my systems here and AVG anti spyware detected one root kit - spyware doctor found 67 root kits ; blacklight found 30 rootkits - draw your own conclusions

[kaden]

i use my brother to kill anything i happen to get that gets past avast and adaware lol. good thing i have a macbook now too it hasnt had any problems

[palg]

I find Spyware is pretty good and agree with others - it picks up what Norton misses.

BUT - there is one thing which REALLY cheeses me. When first installed, it offers the option to run automatically whenever the internet browser is activated. I declined for some time but didnt kill the prompt and then, one day, i accidentally clicked 'yes' to it. ever since, it starts auto when browser activated. Nowhere is there an option - that i can find - which allows me to reverse this default setting. so everytime, i have to start up spyware first , which takes blo*dy ages and annoys my wife no end, even more than me.

I would be very grateful if anyone out there knows how to de-activate this auto-start.

I also would really appreciate any opinion on whether or not use the 'Immunise My Computer' option. Currently, I just run scans frequently. I i immunise, will it severly impact on the performance of my computer or make no difference at all? The last thing i want from my rather dissapointing D*ll laptop is for it go even slower. Any opinion on this would also be really appreciated.