Spyware - General

Hello,

Spy Sweeper is a new anti-spyware program from Webroot.  You can download it at http://www.webroot.com/ download/trial/1/ssfsetup1.exe.  

You can learn more information about it at http://www.webroot.com/wb/products/spysweeper/index.php.

The first thing you'll notice is that unlike SpyBoy and Ad Aware it isn't free.  However, that's the cost Webroot of having a telephone support staff.

Regardless, I'm not trying to get you to buy it.  I would very much like for you to try it, though, and let me know your opinion.

-MMcLean

What about http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6611721~root=security,1~mode=flat

I quote

"I sayed that neither Ad-Aware or Spybot S&D found it. If that file was REALLY spyware, then I bet either Ad-Aware or Spybot S&D would have found it. But they didnt. Only this "thing" from Webroot did...and webroots other "spyware tools" seem to find other "non-existent spyware" in my system anyway. In fact, after reading about that newdotnet spyware, I find it almost impossible that it would actually be newdotnet spyware.
But have others revied their "tools"? Have you found bogus spyware in your system also? Or why havent Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D found anything?"

From Webroot's page, FUD FUD FUD FUD FUD!!!!

"Why you need Spy Sweeper to protect your privacy
"9 out of every 10 Internet-connected PCs are infected by spyware."
Your privacy and computer are at risk if you:
surf the internet more than 1 hour a week
share your computer
make purchases online
use file-sharing programs

 
Anyone with access to your PC (either in person, or over the Internet) can install spyware programs on your system without your knowledge.
Spyware programs are easy to install and virtually impossible to detect without anti-spyware software.
Spyware programs can record your every move - gathering personal information about you; which web sites you visit, which ads you click on, the duration of your visits, your name, age, gender, credit card numbers, passwords, email addresses, online buying habits and more.
Spyware threats have become commonplace, and have even outpaced viruses as the number one on-going danger facing on-line PC users today.
The fact is you are increasingly vulnerable to privacy invasions unless you take steps to protect yourself and your computer assets. Webroot provides solutions that help you take control of your PC and your privacy."

First off, what does FUD mean?

Second, finding false positives and items like this are exactly why I'm posting to this board, so if anyone digs up more, please let me know.

SpyAudit is a marketing tool.  However, it is a new item and still occassionally has a brain fart.  As for the insinuation that Webroot places false positives in order to drive sales, that is false.  As a long term plan, that would only damage Webroot's credibility.

FUD = Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.

It's the tactic someone uses to discourage customers from using a competitors product instead of theirs. Microsoft did it a lot, with MS-DOS vs DR-DOS being the most famous example.

Thanks for the clue Merijn.  Most likely you can bet on me asking foolish questions like that for quite some time.

As for your opinion, Bastard Boy, you are welcome to it.  I don't agree, but I'm not in marketing and I'm not here to argue about the messaging, so I'm not going to.  There are those that will argue that all marketing is evil.    

However, any opinions or facts regarding the product are welcome.

SpyAudit is a marketing tool.

What EXACTLY do you mean by that?

Since marketing tools include spyware and adware and such woudnerful things like CommonMan, ClientMan, Webhancer and the like.

As for FUD, almost any site that posts sush claims as "90% of all computers are infected by spyware" is total FUD.  It debases and casts shadows of doubt as tot he validity of the product, since they can't post credibile information, or even realistic stats.  About a month ago I read that a study found that only about a quater of all computers have spyware.

Mind, that's still an unacceptably high number, but still.

By marketing tool I mean that Spy Audit is used to help sell the software by demonstrating its usefulness. It allows the user to scan their system without having to purchase or download anything and gives instant results.  It is not spy or adware.  

As for the rest, allow me to repeat myself; I'm not in marketing and I'm not here to argue about the messaging, so I'm not going to.  

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the product, I'd love to hear them.  

-MMcLean

Guh?

Sell the software by demonstrating it's effectivness?

You mean like Suicideware?  (Use for 30 days and then dies, kind of thing.)

What's the point of trying to sell stuff when there's enough free stuff out there that does the job just fine, like Spybot or AdAware?

Bastard Boy I would appreciate it if you would actually read the posts before replying.

The first thing you'll notice is that unlike SpyBot and Ad Aware it isn't free. However, that's the cost Webroot of having a telephone support staff.

Webroot is aiming for a different market segment than Spybot and AdAware.  Namely, novice users what want immediate access to live help.  That requires we charge money.  As we already have customers who are aware of the other products hopping on board, the strategy seems sound.

As for your opinion, Bastard Boy, you are welcome to it. I don't agree, but I'm not in marketing and I'm not here to argue about the messaging, so I'm not going to.

I am here to disucss the product.  Anything posts regarding the product are welcome.  I'm not here to argue about the marketing.  Your initial threads about the false positives and such were great and if you have anything more that sound, I would be happy to listen.

-MMcLean

My last words on this is that you should sit down with your marketing guys and get rid of all that FUD.  Otherwise the spyware pundits aren't going to take your software seriously, as your company just looks like another Steve Gibson-esq affair, making money through pure FUD.

Duly noted.  Can we talk about the software now?

-MMcLean

There is very little to say about Spy Sweeper, since without a download we have no way of testing it.

I'm not too impressed by SpyAudit, as it seems simply to count the number of targeted keys in the registry (from a not entirely comprehensive database). It then tells you only how many keys it found, nothing about what programs they correspond to.

Combined with the marketing nonsense on the page you posted, the report "you have X adwares, but we're not going to tell you what they are, now give us money" doesn't seem that compelling to me.

--
Andrew Clover
mailto:and@doxdesk.com
http://www.doxdesk.com/

Andrew,

Thanks for the time, but I'm a bit confused when you say there's no way to test it.  I included the download link for Spy Sweeper in the first post.

http://www.webroot.com/ download/trial/1/ssfsetup1.exe

Is there something I'm missing?

My mistake - there shouldn't be a space after in the URL.

http://www.webroot.com/download/trial/1/ssfsetup1.exe is the correct download link.

-MMcLean

Whatever Spy Sweeper's pros and cons: it did find the annoying Internet Washer spyware! I really hope that those pop-ups are history from now on.