A little advice please

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Hi folks,
I just need a little advice this time. Very Happy

First, what are your thoughts on the program, SpyWare Doctor Question

Second, what is Tea Timer in SpyBot S&D and should I have it active in the program?

Thanks, Bucky Cool

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

bucky wrote:

Hi folks,
I just need a little advice this time. Very Happy

First, what are your thoughts on the program, SpyWare Doctor Question

Second, what is Tea Timer in SpyBot S&D and should I have it active in the program?

Thanks, Bucky Cool

Can't answer the first as I'm not familiar with it.
As for the 2nd, "Tea Timer" is part of the resident scanner, so if you want that function, yes it needs to run.

BTW: here is what the help says: (I ran the Immunize function, too)

Quote:

About TeaTimer
Spybot - Search & Destroy is an on-demand spyware and malware scanner. That means it scans for threats whenever you choose to do so. It also offers some preventive measures like its Immunize function.

Resident, of which TeaTimer is a part, is Spybot-S&D's permanently running partner that does on-access scanning. This means that it will instantly detect and counteract to threats and unsolicited system settings changes.

Werebo

Like Baby_Tux, I haven't tried Spyware Doctor, but one thing to note with the 'Tea-Timer' is that, on some PC's it can really slow things down Sad

.

It runs fine on Mrs WereBo's PC, but on my PC, offline games, browsing the interwebby thingy or downloading anything just crawls along. Something either in Windows or some very common 3rd-party software causes great conflicts with it.

Definitely a case of 'User Beware' Wink

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Thanks Baby Tux & Werebo,
I'll have to wait for some comments on Spyware Doctor. Rolling Eyes

I've been using SpyBot S&D for years now.
I just got the new version 1.5.2.20 and its seems to have slowed my
comp down quite a bit and I have heard that the tea timer will do that.
Anyone else have any comments on these items? Question

Bucky

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1668 Location: London

Lots of Spyware detectors are scams which a.) report non-existent finds so that they can sell themselves to you and b.) install the kind of junk they claim they're detecting.

A quick look on the web finds lots of references to it but not saying it's anything other than genuine implying that it's OK, including
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware_Doctor which seems to be almost recommending it.
And if it's in the Google pack it must be genuine and not a scam; whatever your views on Google they do provide pretty good free apps

But there are shed loads of free antispyware programmes around.

TeeDee

I've been using PC Tools' Spyware Doctor for over a year now, and have had great results with it: when I first installed it, it was to remove a particularly stubborn trojan that even Spybot S&D couldn't shift. It's proven its worth since I've been using it over and over, frequently detecting and cleaning nasties that the others didn't even find, let alone remove..
Another program I'd definitely recommend is Javacools' Spyware Blaster: it's a sort of 'software beta blocker' - although it doesn't keep the beasties out, it neutralises them so they can't run and then they can be removed by the usual means.

PS - Agree regarding S&D's Tea Timer - it can be downright intrusive!

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Bucky,
I answered your post yesterday, but something happened to it and it never did post.

Spyware Doctor is NOT on my own list of recommended software.
I stay 100% malware free without it.

Teatimer? Every tech I know (and add to that a few Geeks and Nerds), will NOT allow Teatimer to load when they install Spybot S&D.

It's way too invasive and runs in the background, sucking up RAM and CPU cycles. And those Pop-Ups!!!!
I share the comments of many users that it would "Drive ME Crazy!".

I have a standard setup for Spybot that I've used for years, when installing it for my customers, and NEVER do I allow Teatimer to install.

I encourage anyone installing Spybot to drop me a PM and I'll email you my instruction sheet for installing Spybot. It's a full page in 10 point type.
If Spybot is not installed properly, it will never run properly.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

Wonsr · Joined: Nov 26, 2004 Posts: 42

Listen to Drwho07, Bucky. He is the best when it comes to computer security. Very Happy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

For what it's worth, I just checked & it appears that I am NOT running the tea timer. For whatever reason, I thought I was. & I believe my system to be secure as it is. So given this & what DOC pointed out, I'd go along with DOC on this. - one less thing your machine will have to do.

I also have to admit, I just starting using SPYBOT so still getting to know it.
As a general rule of thumb, when I first try a new program such as this, I start with the defaults. Then after getting to know a bit about the program, I'll start tweaking to my liking.

bucky · Joined: Oct 15, 2003 Posts: 159 Location: Scranton, Pa.

Ok guys...
I'm all for listening to experince. Smile

Like I said, I've been useing SpyBot for years now w/ the tea timer active.
But it seems that this new version w/ the tea timer loaded is really slowing my comp down. Mad

And drwho, my PM is on it's way for those instructions for SpyBot, thank you. Very Happy

Thanks again guys, Bucky Smile

goretsky

Hello,

Spyware Doctor is an anti-spyware program by PC Tools, a company which makes utility software (registry optimization, disk backup and so forth) but has gradually been entering the security space. The company is about ten years ago, is headquartered in Australia and has about 200 employees. The company used to be called WinGuides. I have not used any of PC Tools' programs, but have made use of their guides in the past and found them to be helpful.

TeaTimer is a program which comes with Safer Networking's Spybot - Search & Destroy. It monitors systems' auto-execute points (some of the places where malware might install itself so it runs every time the computer is started) and prevent changes. While in theory this is a good idea, I have found in practice that it can prevent legitimate software from being installed correctly. As such, I would recommend its use only on computers with fairly static software libraries, i.e., ones that almost never change or have new software on them, and only after testing it thoroughly to make sure it did not interfere with any of the software on the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

When I first saw it, several years ago, I took exception to the term "PC Tools" which was a copywrited name used for a really great Utility package sold by "Central Point Software". I used it extensively back in the DOS days, before windows. Very Happy

To do any real 'setup' on Spybot S&D, you first have to get the program out of basic mode and into Advanced Mode. Till you do that, there isn't much else you can do to customize it. It's all in my instructions. Wink

The text file can be downloaded from HERE.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

kenmabmcc

Thanks Doc.

Very Happy

xavierx · Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 5438

Great instructions, Drwho07, thanks!

serpet · Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 1

thanks to Doctor !!