It is all about confidence and trust.

[Reodor]

I spent the day mostly going through different posts and a bit here and there.
The only reason for anyone to chose a product like SD is that we do not have either confidence or trust in the securty systems built into our browsers, mail programs or whatever.

All security program companies aim their marketing in a way to give potensial customers both confidence and trust that their systems are the best. Some of theese companies are 'fake', they include both this and that of different hidden 'extras' which may classify them more as malware than anti-malware. Theese companies are commonly referred to as Scammers.

Let me use the Wikipedia definition:
Scam may referr to various kinds of confidence tricks.

Let us go to the opening page of PC Tools and wherever on the pages You find Spyware Doctor.

It says: The awardwinning spyware protection.....
Not long ago there was a green button saying 'Scan now', now it has been changed to 'Download'.

In goes the installation files, and then it is 'run'.

If lucky and without too many errors the GUI gets up, and now it is time for the 'small print'.

Did You in fact get 'The award winning spyware protection'?

NO, You did NOT! You get a Version 5.xxxxx. The once 'award winning' was 4.xxxx. According to PC Tools own press info, version 5 is a completely NEW programme with some elements from SD4! Had it all worked, who would have cared and noticed, but this is not the case. Old users of V4 that 'uppgraded', went into trouble. New users went into trouble. PC Tools themself went into so much trouble that they had to remove most of the new 'features' that V5 had compared to V4, they crippled the system as much as possible to make it run with least possible errors.
Spyware Doctor has during the last years managed to built up a confidence and trust in 'millions' of PC users. They used (abused?) this trust and confidence by making people belive they got the 'Award winning Spyware protection' when downloading V5 which NO ONE have ever rated to be even close to any award of the positive kind.

The only hint that something may have changed is the 'NEW' in red, there is nowhere said something like: The successor of...., a completely redisigned...,

Misleading marketing? To me it fits more into the Wikipedia definition of SCAM.

Problems may arrise in all programms, user created, application created it is all familiar. But PC Tools claim to have a 24/7 support system.
Mail to support or try the forum. For those who tried a 'ticket' it has been a long waiting with absolutely nothing, I waited for 12 days, got a requets about my phone number? then a message to download version 179 - which was allready installed on my lap top by smart update!
Then we have this board. No offence to anyone, but from 'the official' or whatever they might be categorised as there are three answers: The problem have been escalated, try to install in 'Safe Mode', deactivate one or more running protections! I got a bit naughty in one of the posts and made a recommendation of just uninstall! That one rendered in a PM, a 'soft one' however. The only 'real' info that seems to be is from those with genuine recognizable problems that shears experiences and ideas, but unfortunately does not have any solutions. But it might all be a definition question when it goes down to the 24/7 support - perhaps we get the soluton July 24th!

The renewal and unsubscribing is another issue, but have been battered in several posts before, it just adds to what is mentioned above.

What does all of this add up to?
For me I have unfortunately lost most of both trust and confidence in PC tools. Reading some of the 'user reviews' around on the net indicates I'm not alone, not to forget some of the posts on this board.

For the time being PC Tools has not only lost one of the leading positions in this "Anti" market by releasing a disaterous version, they have lost the most important of all: The esential for me to choose them as my Security Guardian: My trust and confidence!

They may not be too happy about this post, but they need to get some straight feed back on the effect of their actions, lack of action and general behaviour. I was happy with V4, I was even happy with V5, siteadvisor etc, to me it seemed to work. But now, I'm not happy anymore, even with 179. There has been to much 'surfacing' in the last weeks.

I do not like being SCAMMED!

[OUTTA HERE!]

I don't know what's going on with PC Tools. It's like a whole different company from when I first got Spyware Doctor over a year ago to combat a nasty piece of malware called SPYWARE STRIKE. I got online and telephone support. Sure, I waited 2 days for a fix, but that's because the bug was so new.

Now I'm just waiting to see how this all shakes out. I've been using Firefox exclusively for several months, and was excited about Version 5 coming out because previous versions did not support FF. But we all know how that turned out!

I have since purchased a competing product, but I might as well watch the show from the not so "cheap seats", as my sub has 6 months left.

http://img124.echo.cx/img124/3829/sc1093ss.gif

[User]

Hi Guys

I wouldn't go as far as saying they're a scam company, that's probably too strong a word.

You and I paid money, they give us a piece of program, it's a fair transaction, therefore not a scam.

It's like you go to a burger stand and buy a burger. If the burger doesn't live up to your gourmet taste expectation, would you say the stand is a scam? You would probably say the burger tasted bad etc, but what did you expect from a burger stand?

Having said that.

I believe PC Tools has come a long way and grown alot. Their programs have become more sophistifcated, complex and efective, there are now more products, some of them are even free ! With that certainly comes plenty of responsibility and customers to service.

All in all, I think I got good value out of my purchase, spyware doctor it has it's quirks, but so does every other program that's ever created.

A scam? I wouldn't go as far as saying that...

[padi]

Hi Guys

I wouldn't go as far as saying they're a scam company, that's probably too strong a word.

You and I paid money, they give us a piece of program, it's a fair transaction, therefore not a scam.

It's like you go to a burger stand and buy a burger. If the burger doesn't live up to your gourmet taste expectation, would you say the stand is a scam? You would probably say the burger tasted bad etc, but what did you expect from a burger stand?

Having said that.

I believe PC Tools has come a long way and grown alot. Their programs have become more sophistifcated, complex and efective, there are now more products, some of them are even free ! With that certainly comes plenty of responsibility and customers to service.

All in all, I think I got good value out of my purchase, spyware doctor it has it's quirks, but so does every other program that's ever created.

A scam? I wouldn't go as far as saying that...

While I would agree with about the scam SD5 was just not ready to be launched its as simple as that.Just rushed out for Vista and would agree that sometimes programs might give trouble on different machines.But SD5 gave me more trouble on my work form home machines that any other software I can remember since Windows 95.Now customer support has been almost nil except thought this forum.Now SD4 has always worked well for me,but a email from PC Tools bragging about how wonderful SD5 was and asking to upgrade.Was the worst software disaster for me since the early Windows days completely trash two of my machines.And took hours to put right back to SD 4 all fine and dandy,then SD4 updates with SD5 forgot what version trash machines again.After trying and uninstalling re-installing enough is enough changed to webroot installed fine,takes second to start.On first scan found a few things SD4 missed,cannot comment on SD5 as it did not work for me.And the only security programs on my machine,were SD4 kaspersky5 AV and zone alarm firewall.And these worked with SD4 and are working fine with Spysweeper.They say you should not have two spy-ware programs on your PC.So for a experiment I downloaded a free version of superantispyware.Both are working fine with no slow downs conflicts whatsoever.So perhaps I will keep the free one for just a occasional scan.I have cancelled my subcription for the SD,after they took the money without asking me first, 11 days before my subscription was up.Then reminded me of the term when I renewed online last year very sneaky IHO.And after several emails they returned my money and guess whats just arrived in my mail.

Dear xxxxxx,

* Our records indicate that your Spyware Doctor subscription is up for renewal and due to expire in the next few days. *:confused:

We hope you have enjoyed your one-year subscription of PC Tools Spyware Doctor and that the software has proved to be a valuable resource in protecting your system against spyware and other malicious software threats.

Over the past year we have released several major upgrades and hundreds of database and feature updates to provide the world's leading anti-spyware protection for your PC. In recognition Spyware Doctor has received numerous awards for the best anti-spyware including four PC Magazine Editors' Choice awards, in 2005 and 2006 as well as PC Magazine award for the best AntiSpyware of 2005.

With new spyware being identified every day, a current subscription to receive the latest product updates and upgrades is imperative to keep your computer spyware free.

Please renew NOW through this email to extend your subscription for another year at a discounted price. To receive $10-off the normal price of $29.95 USD, please click the link below and pay only $19.95 USD.

http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/renew/

During the renewal process you will be prompted to enter your license code which is:
1647-XXXX-BDC0-XXXX-743D-6326-03CB-9B49-XXXX-2124

We look forward to supporting you for another year with the most powerful anti-spyware protection available.

For any questions regarding your Spyware Doctor subscription or the renewal process, please email us at support@pctools.com or visit us online at http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/answers/

Finally, we would like to thank you for your continued support and help in making Spyware Doctor the world's leading anti-spyware solution!:mad:

Best Regards,

PC Tools Team

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To manage your subscription or email address please visit:
http://www.pctools.com/newsletter/subscription/


WHAT COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSH#T.

[Anne]

I'm guessing this is just an automated email reminding you to renew now that the auto-renewal is cancelled.

If you dont wanna renew then ignore the email or otherwise the delete button is always there.

[Reodor]

It's like you go to a burger stand and buy a burger. If the burger doesn't live up to your gourmet taste expectation, would you say the stand is a scam? You would probably say the burger tasted bad etc, but what did you expect from a burger stand?



If the burger stands advertise 'Beef Burgers' and I get beef burger, I do not mind. The taste is another thing. If the same stand under the same sign all of a sudden one day gives me burgers with 1% Beef and 99% Pork , I have been scammed!

This is what PC Tools have done and keep on doing.

[tommy122]

SD5 has been a disaster since it's release. All new programs have their problems but this one is the worst yet. Unless I missed it, PC Tools has not owned up to the problem(s). If they had just said that "we are having problems with version 5 and are working on a fix" I would respect that. Instead, they have not admitted that there are problems. I am hoping that they will finally "fix" version 5. In the mean time, I am back to v. 4. If these problems are not corrected by the time my renewal comes up, I will not renew. I think that a lot of others feel the same. I think that PC Tools needs to get their heads out of the sand. Once a reputation is ruined, it is almost impossible to get it back.

[gringopig]

SD5 has been a disaster since it's release. All new programs have their problems but this one is the worst yet. Unless I missed it, PC Tools has not owned up to the problem(s). If they had just said that "we are having problems with version 5 and are working on a fix" I would respect that. Instead, they have not admitted that there are problems. I am hoping that they will finally "fix" version 5. In the mean time, I am back to v. 4. If these problems are not corrected by the time my renewal comes up, I will not renew. I think that a lot of others feel the same. I think that PC Tools needs to get their heads out of the sand. Once a reputation is ruined, it is almost impossible to get it back.

Version 5 is fixed and has been for some time now. LOL!!!!
Get with it now.

[ratchet]

As I stated weeks ago, the release and even more so the continual release, after they realized how bad (heck, browsers couldn't even connect to to the www) V5 was, is probably the most blatant, reckless and unethical act an establish company has ever done.

[OUTTA HERE!]

I'd like some of what gringopig is smokin'

[gringopig]

I'd like some of what gringopig is smokin'

That's a grievous slur wee man!

My personal opinion is that many (if not all) of the 'problems' that have been reported here have been the result of either: absolute incompetence on the part of the user, a basic failure to understand the risks of running multiple kernel level protection programs, a fractured and corrupt OS and the malicious posting of 'competitors'.

Do you realise how complex the interaction is between the operating system, 3rd party drivers (not all of which may be signed off as XP/Vista compatible) and multiple 'security suites' & Anti-spyware programs?
Why is it, in addition, that posters to this forum spout venom and OPENLY ADMIT to using SD in parallel with Spy Sweeper (!!) and Spybot for good measure AND a 'security suite'!!
Why not just start deleting system files while yr at it...

SD5 has been functioning correctly and smoothly with an intact XP Home OS since .169!!!
If yr still having problems then I suggest that you are either: an absolute novice or need to supply the relevant info to PCTools. Why do you not post a list of yr running processes (try Process explorer from Sysinternals (now Microsoft owned).

Yr assertion that I must be 'smokin'' something BTW, is an insult. My personal opinion (again) is that I am in the majority here and I suspect that PCTools know this and are secretly laughing at you for being a 'noob'.
;-)

Whoops that text is quite big eh? Ah well, you get the point.

[scottls]

I am a software tech-
I have been patient with SWD (most ALL anti-malware has version upgrade problems!- Google... "before" you upgrade!).
Every time SWD comes out with a new V5..., I think :"Hey, this may be it!?"-
I COMPLETELY uninstall V4 (again) & try a "clean install" (run/msconfig, ALL Startup Groups(programs) Disabled (Google it...), but my Comodo firewall-
V5...176 BAD!
V5...177 WORSE!
V5...179 Didn't last long!?- I uninstalled it because of the CONSTANT (non-stop every 5 seconds... (V176 & V177 too!)) noisy Hard Drive activity (I have a !FAST! WD Raptor 10,000rpm/4.2ms C-HD !WOW!, that's a little noisy on seek/write only).
If you have a power setting where you "turn off hard disk/standby... after... minutes inactive...- forget it (SWD is ALWAYS active!- Watch your HD light flash!)!
This will probably play havoc with a laptop battery too!?

Back to V4? Just to be sure SWD is working...?- I turned off On-Guard, and disabled Startup setting/restart- Download/install/run SpySweeper 5.3 (free scan/only). It was a clean scan. Uninstalled/restart & restarted/enabled... SWD V4.

I'll give SWD V4/V5 90 more days to get their act... together, until my subscription expires- Then if still messed up..., I'll probably go with SS (I prefer SWD!).

NOTE!!!: Beware that PcTools will probably auto-renew/charge your credit card at the end of ALL... their products subscription periods! I emailed CS, & put a STOP... to this!
This auto-renew is VERY DECEPTIVE/sneaky..., and REALLY ticks-me-off #@%& !

[OUTTA HERE!]

Version 5 is fixed and has been for some time now. LOL!!!!
Get with it now.

That sure looks like a JOKE to me!

If version 5 is working for you, then you are one of the lucky ones.

If my only protections are ONE ANTI-MALWARE and ONE ANTI-VIRUS, is that too much? Should I ditch them, too?

If you don't have any problems, why are you here? Crawl back under your rock.

As for me, I paid for my ticket and I'm stayin' for the show!!!






http://www.jms101.btinternet.co.uk/full_sets/gold/circular_bold_std/clown.gif

[security@dsnmail.net]

Version 5 is fixed and has been for some time now. LOL!!!!
Get with it now.

What total nonsense.

[gringopig]

What total nonsense.

Untrue. I think you are the exception rather than the rule; it's most likely that a huge pecentage of users have NO problems whatsoever past .169 (perhaps .174)

I had problems initially too but PCTools have sorted them out.

BTW, when I read stuuf like this: "I COMPLETELY uninstall V4 (again) & try a "clean install" (run/msconfig, ALL Startup Groups(programs) Disabled (Google it...), but my Comodo firewall-
V5...176 BAD!
V5...177 WORSE!
V5...179 Didn't last long!?- I uninstalled it because of the CONSTANT (non-stop every 5 seconds... (V176 & V177 too!)) noisy Hard Drive activity (I have a !FAST! WD Raptor 10,000rpm/4.2ms C-HD !WOW!, that's a little noisy on seek/write only).
If you have a power setting where you "turn off hard disk/standby... after... minutes inactive...- forget it (SWD is ALWAYS active!- Watch your HD light flash!)!
This will probably play havoc with a laptop battery too!?"

I just have to wonder! This is from (believe it or not a 'software tech'). Get this: "SWD is ALWAYS active!- Watch your HD light flash!". Wow. It must always be 'active' then; accessing yr hard drive??? Eh? Probably got Vista installed!!!

Now THAT was nonsense...

[tom.tdw]

Version 5 is fixed and has been for some time now. LOL!!!!
Get with it now.
there have been some improvements but it is far from fixed, pctools still need to bring back the missing guards and as far as im aware spyware doctor cannot remove outerinfo

[allibear]

It's like you go to a burger stand and buy a burger. If the burger doesn't live up to your gourmet taste expectation, would you say the stand is a scam? You would probably say the burger tasted bad etc, but what did you expect from a burger stand?

I have never seen such incompetent bull as this example in relationship to all the current debate going on here at the moment, that is a serious issue for some of us.

Please, at least, do not insult the general public's intelligence with such childish examples we are not schoolchildren you know.

I refrain to comment further than I could on this post.

[tom.tdw]

I have never seen such incompetent bull as this example in relationship to all the current debate going on here at the moment, that is a serious issue for some of us.

Please, at least, do not insult the general public's intelligence with such childish examples we are not schoolchildren you know.

I refrain to comment further than I could on this post.
selling a bad product doesn't count as a scam. when pctools say it is a good product that is an opinion so it cannot be a lie

[allibear]

selling a bad product doesn't count as a scam. when pctools say it is a good product that is an opinion so it cannot be a lie

Wikipedia, definition of scam;

"Scam may refer to various kinds of confidence trick"

I think you are missing, or not seeing, the point of why some people feel this way.

[Reodor]

selling a bad product doesn't count as a scam. when pctools say it is a good product that is an opinion so it cannot be a lie


The problem here is that the product they are referring to and 'claiming' they are selling , 'the award winning...',is NOT the one they are delivering.

THAT IS A SCAM!

[gringopig]

The problem here is that the product they are referring to and 'claiming' they are selling , 'the award winning...',is NOT the one they are delivering.

THAT IS A SCAM!

No, that's common practice out there in marketing land. You only have to look at the dust-jacket review of any best selling book to realise that selective quoting/glowing praise about the LAST book/claims to be a 'modern classic' etc are all techniques used to make us part with the cash.

PCTools are being only slightly disingenuous here but it is certainly not a scam. If that were so then the whole marketing industry is also...

[tom.tdw]

well the reviews for spyware doctor 4 are alot better than those for spyware doctor 5


see article below:
http://review.zdnet.com/Reviews/4566-3688_16-0.html?sa=all

[tommy122]

Version 5 is fixed and has been for some time now. LOL!!!!
Get with it now.

Not from the posts that I'm reading here. It may be fixed for you but not for a lot of others apparently.

[tom.tdw]

still comparatively pctools have a good record. using their figures they have 75million users and only 12000 complaints. that beats Microsoft by a margin of 5 to 1

[XR6]

I don't see how you can call V5 a scam, it is a free download for anyone with a subscription. And the awards are clearly for previous versions - how could V5 win awards in 2005 and 2006? Yes, it's a major re-write, but PC Tools aren't alone here - Symantec have made major changes to their security software in the last year.

I've said this in a number of posts already, but the basic problem with the SD5 release is clearly a totally inadequate beta programme.

If there is a scam, then it's the auto renew. I've been caught by this before, but to see a security software company implementing this is pretty low.

And at least PC Tools have released a free upgrade for Vista. No such luck with Nero - I had to buy a copy of V7 to get Nero to work on Vista, and they are not alone in doing this.

Just a comment to all of you who've had major problems. If you set a restore point in XP before you install or upgrade, then you can go back to how the system was. This does not affect any data on your system. I've used this more than once when a piece of software has caused major problems, and it works really well.

[Reodor]

I don't see how you can call V5 a scam, it is a free download for anyone with a subscription. And the awards are clearly for previous versions - how could V5 win awards in 2005 and 2006? Yes, it's a major re-write, but PC Tools aren't alone here - Symantec have made major changes to their security software in the last year.

I've said this in a number of posts already, but the basic problem with the SD5 release is clearly a totally inadequate beta programme.

If there is a scam, then it's the auto renew. I've been caught by this before, but to see a security software company implementing this is pretty low.

And at least PC Tools have released a free upgrade for Vista. No such luck with Nero - I had to buy a copy of V7 to get Nero to work on Vista, and they are not alone in doing this.

Just a comment to all of you who've had major problems. If you set a restore point in XP before you install or upgrade, then you can go back to how the system was. This does not affect any data on your system. I've used this more than once when a piece of software has caused major problems, and it works really well.

I never said V5 is a scam, the scam is that 'You in confidence are tricked' to download what is said to be an 'aweard winning...' and instaed You get what You call 'a totally inadequate Beta programme'. Then if You run into 'unsolvable' problems, You might be helped and directed: V4 = the 'awardwinning version'.
If we combine Your and mine oppinions: You are scammed into Beta testing!

The auto renew by itself is not a scam. That goes into quite a different category. However IF someone, like Ralph Nader (for those who remember) should end up in this mess, mr Green's next press conference might be held in an oak paneled hall where the 'journalists' have black robes and whigs.
And for those who are not a 'Ralph Nader', the following address might be of help to clear out the matter. They are friendly people and will normally give a straight answer to most consumer related questions, even e-commerce.(US residents only)

http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm

[XR6]

I guess my definition of a scam is slightly different, in that I'd say that involves some material loss for the scammed party.

I've just been back and looked the the home page for SD. Unlike many other software vendors, they clearly identify the version number that won the award, and it's clear that V5 hasn't won any awards yet.

I'm not trying to be an apologist for PC Tools, but I think some of the flak that they get on this forum is unfair. My experience of V3.x and V4 is that they've kept my home PCs free of spyware and adware for the last year after having some really nasty problems that took hours to clean up.

But it looks like they got V5 badly wrong in their rush to get it out for the Vista launch. I note that ZoneLabs have just started beta testing their Vista product.

[tom.tdw]

they should have just sent emails about the beta to users. i would have downloaded it straight away but business users would have been able to implement a slower transition