PC Tools Spyware Doctor Issues

Spyware Doctor is a legitimate product.  I'm not sure, but as a trial it may find, and not remove the pests until you pay for the product.

Let's try a reliable FREE product that will find and remove malware. Later on after the system is clean, you may want to upgrade to the paid version for realtime protection and auto updating. You will, however, have the option of keeping the FREE working on-demand  MBAM scanner.

You can download to your desktop Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Here or Here

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.

• Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
• If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates,
• manually download them from here
  and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.
  Alternatively, you can update through MBAM's interface from a clean computer,
  copy the definitions (rules.ref) located in
  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes'
  Anti-Malware from that system to a usb stick or CD and then copy it to the infected machine.

• Once the program has loaded, select "Perform Quick Scan"; then click Scan.
• The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Make sure that everything is checked
  Click Remove Selected.
• When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.(See Extra Note)
• The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM

• Extra Notes:

  If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove,you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts,click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process,if asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately.

  * If you are unable to download or install MBAM on your computer, see if you can use a friend's or family member's computer to download MBAM. Use this update link here to manually download the update. Once downloaded, rename the program installer "mbam-setup.exe" file to something else like "catchjunk.exe". Copy the installer file and the update file to your CD or flash drive. Transfer the file to the infected computer. Install the "catchjunk.exe" file, then run the update so that you will have the current definitions. After that, run a full system scan and select to have the program REMOVE whatever it finds.

  -- MBAM may make changes to your registry as part of its disinfection routine. If you're using other security programs that detect registry changes (like Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere with the fix or alert you after scanning with MBAM. Please disable such programs until disinfection is complete or permit them to allow the changes.

  **If you need to re-install MBAM but encounter issue in re-installing, try using the MBAM Cleanup Utility by downloading it from http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam-clean.exe

  Another good FREE scanner that you could install is SUPERAntiSpyware for Home Users

  • Double-click SUPERAntiSpyware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
  • An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
  • If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download and unzip them from here.)
  • Under "Configuration and Preferences", click the Preferences button.
  • Click the Scanning Control tab.
  • Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (UNcheck all others.):
    • Close browsers before scanning.
    • Scan for tracking cookies.
    • Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
  • Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen.
  • Back on the main screen, under "Scan for Harmful Software" click Scan your computer.
  • On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
  • On the right, under "Complete Scan", choose Perform Complete Scan.
  • Click "Next" to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
  • After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click "OK".
  • Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click "Next".
  • A notification will appear that "Quarantine and Removal is Complete". Click "OK" and then click the "Finish" button to return to the main menu.
  • If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes"
  • Note:
  • *To retrieve the SAS removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.
    • Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.
    • Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
    • If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.
  • Click Close to exit the program.

  If I were you I would be more careful about casually downloading and installing programs.

  Please see these two pages for reliable:

  FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE  

  FREE SECURITY SOFTWARE

   

   

   

Pinta:

My thoughts on Spyware Doctor, after trialling it in 2007:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/18678601/18801721.aspx#18801721

I was less than impressed with it.

As Bugbatter suspected, then, as now, the free trial version did not include malware removal:

"Trial Limitations: The trial offers time unlimited real-time protection (free spyware blocking), but does not remove threats detected during on-demand scans, updates may also differ to those supplied to registered users."

I'd stick with MBAM.