Customer Reviews

Sunbelt Counterspy AntiSpyware [Old Version]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After reading the review of this product in PC WORLD just the other day, I went ahead and ordered the program. The review was right on, this program found 11 spyware files and one Trojan Horse file in my home computer. Interesting, because I run Ad-Aware and Spybot as my anti-spyware programs daily......and these two didn't find what Counterspy found! I'm sold. Though my other programs are "free", I gladly will spend the $19 bucks or so for this program for my other machines now. No, I don't work for the PC World folks; nor the Counterspy folks; nor Amazon or any computer outfit....Am retired, and have fun building computers for fun and family!

Maybe its just me. This software gets incredible reviews, and no one has any negatives, so I bought it.
It does seem to do a good job finding the nasties. But the first thing I noticed was sloppy programming in the interface, like overlapping text, and border lines that aren't on the border. Hardly the stuff of award-winning software.
Then I had trouble with it locking up my computer during updates, and sometimes during scans. I finally turned the automatic feature off. And it wouldn't automatically deal with the threats it finds, it waits all night for me to 'take action'.
When I tried to use Active Desktop, forget it. Instead of synchronizing it would crash.
I just did a clean install, of a brand new download, on a brand new HD, and I'm still having problems with it, just different ones.
Like I said, maybe it's just me...
Aug 23:
I found the tech support at counterspy to be very attentive in trying to address my concerns, with some success.
Now that I've upgraded to a new PC and XP, it's working flawlessly. I'm real happy with it's active protection. I would highly recommend it and give it 5 stars, if your running XP.

12/25/07
Not just the Christmas spirit:
There's been a couple of upgrades-they've worked out the bugs. This product works flawlessly. At $20 a year, it give great of peace of mind. Updates are about once a week. Software and updates run smooth. Interface is much improved and gets better all the time.
Truly a great product.

Every now and then, a product comes on to the market which actually does just what you want it to do. I am hardly a system tech, but regularly clean my PC with various programs, and considered my system spyware free. That is until I read PC Advisor`s (UK) review of anti-spyware programs recently, and on their recommendation installed Sunbelt`s Counterspy. It was a breeze to install, and the fast scan showed 6 spyware progs installed. After I got up off the floor, Counterspy cleaned the drive and left me feeling more than a tad relieved.
Sure, nothings` 100% foolproof, but this is easy to use, gives auto updates, and gives minimal system lag, not to mention being cheaper than the competition. If you`re unsure, read the reviews!

First, the bad news:

Based on my personal findings, you STILL NEED more than one anti-spyware program in today's PC world.


2nd, the GOOD news:
I can now see why over the past couple years or so,
Webroot's Spy-sweeper and
Sunbelt's Counterspy
- have constantly gone back and forth in winning either
1st and 2nd place for anti-spyware utilities in magaine editor reviews.

I have been using anti-malware software since the time that Xcleaner first came out. (At the time Xcleaner was one of the only tools out there to scan for malware).

I have used webroot for over 3 years now and would still recommend it.

But now that I have added Sunbelt's Counterspy to my pc, I noticed a couple items that spy-sweeper seems to have missed.

Here's my 02 cents on anti-spyware scan utilities.

1. Use at least 2 different ones, because it's now Sept 2006 and no one antispyware maker appears to have designed a
single, all-encompassing utility that finds ALL malware.

2. I use BOTH paid and free software.
Malware programs are often just as bad as, or worse than virus's.

I got over the "use FREE software only" mentality a long time ago.

For me there isn't any "free" software.

a. I'll pay the $20 bucks a year to have a retail boxed, software program find and remove malware.
b. I'll "donate" some bucks to the donation-ware (aka FREE) software if it also does the job of keeping my pc clean.

3. My personal picks for retail products:
1st place (shared) Webroot and Sunbelt
3rd place (shared) Pest Patrol and Spyware Doctor.

I downloaded and ran the free scan of version 2. I had been trying to get rid of one particular adware nuisance on my computer for weeks. I tried free, as well as purchased several antispyware programs, in my effort to get rid of this adware. These included the highly rated "Stopzilla". I only used programs that specifically stated they would remove this particular adware. All to no avail. Nothing found it, much less removed it. The very first scan with CounterSpy found it and removed it along with other spyware. I immediately purchased it. I have been more than happy with this product.

I had Spysweeper, then Spyware Doctor, both were good, but bogged the computer down, frustrating. I read about, then downloaded the trail version of Counter Spy, easy to use. No learning curve, run setup, even has a default scheduled scan time preset, you can change it if you want. I rebooted and noticed my the computer started quicker, not that it really matters. Biggest difference is I can surf the Net without waiting for the page to load. For $20 I think it's worth it.

Having been a big fan of Sunbelt software I decided to try CounterSpy, since it just released version 2. I had been using one of the free programs provided by a major OS manufacture. CounterSpy did a complete scan in relatively short time, found 4 infections the free software didn't (one of which was a Trojan) and provided in depth information on the newly discovered infections.
Keep in mind I have been faithfully scanning with the free software and infections got by it. So I purchased CounterSpy. It has an active protection feature that I hope will prevent further infections. But I have learned one thing. Layered protection is the only effective solution to this problem.
I highly recommend the newly improved CounterSpy.

I am a systems/network engineer and while there is no one best anti parasite program, COUNTERSPY is one of the best and is included in my arsenal along with SPYSWEEPER and yes, still, PEST PATROL(though I rather dislike CA computer associates who bought PP last year.)

It is amazing to me how well COUNTERSPY works, not to mention free onshore technical support should you need it. (Imagine, an American company actually hires American workers). This is all the more interesting especially when you compare it to Microsoft AntiSpyware which was born of the same engine and is esentialy useless.

Still, make sure you are behind a hardware SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) firewall as well as a software firewall (NIS, Zone Alarm, etc.), and never click a link in your e-mail and you are well on your way.

The software being sold is an old version, although it's described as new. Kept receiving a message daily indicating that it was time to renew my subscription, although I had just purchased the software. Customer Service was very good and they updated to the latest version. Amazon needs to indicate the age of software they're selling and the version. Other than that one specific problem, the software is good and the customer support is excellent.

I have managed many computer for various people both for family and work. I have also used many different spyware programs. The fact no single spyware program will protect you. you should use free solutions like adaware and spybot (whose bet feature is setting IE to block known bad websites) as manual additional scans. You should pay for one at one spyware program and use it in active protection.

Of the 2 main ones I recommend Counterspy, because it is fast, slows your system down the least, and is very effective prevention let alone removal. Please note all the reviews were from before version 2 came out or right when v2 was released. All is well now.

I also recommend you install a free app called threatfire to supplement your antivirus and antispyware. Google it and find the numberous review by various pc magazines as a vital supplement. Never just take someones word here for a free app.