# Opinions on CounterSpy?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 26, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723 "2005-08-26T13:28:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723/1 "2005-08-26T13:28:14Z")

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Anybody have an opinion, good or bad, on a anti-Spyware software called [CounterSpy](http://www.sunbelt-software.com/CounterSpy.cfm)?

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723/2 "2005-08-26T16:48:38Z")

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I’d never heard of this product until your post.

[This review](http://www.adwarereport.com/mt/archives/000157.html) is not especially flettering.

[This one](http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,pg,2,00.asp), on the other hand, gives it top marks. Look at [this table](http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119572,pg,4,00.asp) also, and read the whole test for even more information.

Personally, i use a few free utilities and i haven’t had any malware on my computer for a long time.

I use:

Microsoft AntiSpyware  
AdAware  
Spybot S&D  
Spywareblaster

AVG AntiVirus

I also run a hardware firewall (router) and a software firewall (ZoneAlarm), and use Firefox as my browser of choice.

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**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723/3 "2005-08-26T17:08:15Z")

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What mhendo said. I think you’re better off with the MS software compared to that, since they’re pretty much the same thing. With that, and the utilities mhendo listed, you can get protected for pretty cheap.

-NC  
\*Ad Agency IT geek

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**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-counterspy/318723/4 "2005-08-27T01:45:43Z")

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CounterSpy is basically a rebranded version of the Giant antispyware. The same Giant antispyware that MS bought and is now giving away for free. It’s great stuff, but there’s no reason to pay for it.