B
Bill Ratz
I have been using a program from NoAdware for a little
over a year. I run a scan about once a week. Recently I
saw their current advertisement for a "free scan" and
thought what the heck, I already have the software plus it
resembled the notice you would receive for an update. I
ran their scan and had 130 cookies in the "Serious danger"
category and maybe 45 to 50 registry entries with the same
level of threat. I was amazed but certainly not thinking
as you will see. I downloaded the "update", paid the
$30.00 through PayPal and went about my way.
The next day by sheer co-incidence I saw an article on the
Internet about NoAdware spyware and the conclusion was
it's basically worthless. An attribute I admired, its
quickness, was due to the fact it did nothing! They
apparently have arrangements with advertisers and spyware
makers to go light on true detection ability. Then it
dawned on me. I ran their own software myself only several
days prior to my "free scan" and found nothing! How could
they find so much? I then took the time to check and I had
at least another 5 monts to go before an update was
required. They never said a word. Between this and the
story I had seen, I e-mailed and told them that I wanted a
full refund and by the way, what a lousy way to run a
business. I received a reply saying I could have my money
back without any problem but would I let them prove their
worth by running a "special program" so they could examine
the results and get back to me about their "true worth to
the customer". I did not do that, wrote back again,
received even more useless double talk and finally I wrote
and said do I get my money back, yes or no. And I was not
interested in running any program for them. I have not
heard back since. I'm sorry this is so long but one more
item please.
I did a complete re-install of XP about 2 weeks ago and in
the process of saving what I wanted before formatting the
disk, I found buried several layers deep, under some non-
related programs a file from NoAdware. Guess what it
contained? All the malicious findings they reported to me
as being "found" by their great software and my "free
scan". Downloaded just moments before the "free scan"
started I assume, I'm not expert enough to tell, but I
assume the special program they wanted me to run was going
to return their phony little packet back to them. Just a
hunch. I kept it because now it sounds more like outright
fraud rather than slick marketing and a "dumb" consumer.
So just a warning and a story for what it is worth. It's
certainly not the money but the principal. I guess when
you sell junk you have to find some way to market the junk
you're selling. And unlike me think before acting! Anyone
else had this same fun?
And by the way this Microsoft Beta looks fantastic, to me
anyway. And I just explained to you how difficult I am to
fool. Thanks for the ear. I feel better. And I really do
like this Beta!
over a year. I run a scan about once a week. Recently I
saw their current advertisement for a "free scan" and
thought what the heck, I already have the software plus it
resembled the notice you would receive for an update. I
ran their scan and had 130 cookies in the "Serious danger"
category and maybe 45 to 50 registry entries with the same
level of threat. I was amazed but certainly not thinking
as you will see. I downloaded the "update", paid the
$30.00 through PayPal and went about my way.
The next day by sheer co-incidence I saw an article on the
Internet about NoAdware spyware and the conclusion was
it's basically worthless. An attribute I admired, its
quickness, was due to the fact it did nothing! They
apparently have arrangements with advertisers and spyware
makers to go light on true detection ability. Then it
dawned on me. I ran their own software myself only several
days prior to my "free scan" and found nothing! How could
they find so much? I then took the time to check and I had
at least another 5 monts to go before an update was
required. They never said a word. Between this and the
story I had seen, I e-mailed and told them that I wanted a
full refund and by the way, what a lousy way to run a
business. I received a reply saying I could have my money
back without any problem but would I let them prove their
worth by running a "special program" so they could examine
the results and get back to me about their "true worth to
the customer". I did not do that, wrote back again,
received even more useless double talk and finally I wrote
and said do I get my money back, yes or no. And I was not
interested in running any program for them. I have not
heard back since. I'm sorry this is so long but one more
item please.
I did a complete re-install of XP about 2 weeks ago and in
the process of saving what I wanted before formatting the
disk, I found buried several layers deep, under some non-
related programs a file from NoAdware. Guess what it
contained? All the malicious findings they reported to me
as being "found" by their great software and my "free
scan". Downloaded just moments before the "free scan"
started I assume, I'm not expert enough to tell, but I
assume the special program they wanted me to run was going
to return their phony little packet back to them. Just a
hunch. I kept it because now it sounds more like outright
fraud rather than slick marketing and a "dumb" consumer.
So just a warning and a story for what it is worth. It's
certainly not the money but the principal. I guess when
you sell junk you have to find some way to market the junk
you're selling. And unlike me think before acting! Anyone
else had this same fun?
And by the way this Microsoft Beta looks fantastic, to me
anyway. And I just explained to you how difficult I am to
fool. Thanks for the ear. I feel better. And I really do
like this Beta!