Who's spying on you? 6 anti-spyware apps tested

Websense Enterprise v5.2

The developers at Websense have taken a lateral thinking approach when it comes to combating spyware on the network. Instead of looking individually at each desktop machine's registry entries and hard drive files, Websense takes the whole network into account. The application -- while primarily designed as a content filter/employee Internet management system -- does have some anti-spyware designs and applications to it.

Installation was a little more difficult than some of the other products in this review but it is still relatively simple. The main reason for this additional level of complexity is that this product is designed to be installed on a gateway machine and has those additional filtering features inherently built into its design. A series of questions and prompts during the installation phase makes the process easier and also aids in the initial configuration of the system.

Once the relevant modules are installed and the main interface has been launched, more detailed levels of configuration can be accessed. Integration with varying directory services/structures is very handy and saves a lot of double handling of accounts. There is even a real time traffic/incident monitor included.

Unfortunately we did not have as long as we would have liked to review this product, particularly considering it has quite a prodigious list of capabilities. But from what we saw, it is our suggestion to those in the market for an advanced content filtering/management system or looking for an enterprise level spyware/malware detection system to give Websense a trial.

  Spyware
  CA eTrust PestPatrol
  F-Secure
  Lavasoft Ad-Aware
  McAfee AntiSpyware
  Trend Micro OfficeScan
  Websense

 Specifications
 How We Tested
 Sample Scenarios
 Editor's choice
 About RMIT
Product Websense Enterprise, Websense Security PG, and Websense Client Policy Manager
Price For 1000 users: Websense Enterprise US$15/user/year; Security PG US$5/user/year; Client Policy Manager US$25/user/year
Vendor Websense
Phone +1 858 320 8000
Web www.websense.com
 
Interoperability ½
Good bundle, excellent network design and management, providing one is also looking for content filtering.
Futureproofing ½
Comprehensive suite of tools, however it does not provide for dsektop specific ondemand scan.
ROI ½
Well-priced considering the features of this suite.
Service ½
12 months appears to be the standard warranty with all these applications which is very good for software applications in general.
Rating

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Talkback 7 comments

  1. Nastyware - a collective descriptive term... Anonymous -- 16/11/04

    Nastyware - a collective descriptive term...

  2. You obviously have not seen the very recent advice from Pest Patrol, which now is no longer supported, but has been replaced (free of charge to current users) with a new Spyware called "Counterspy". I have had it installed for about a week and a Anonymous -- 20/12/04

    You obviously have not seen the very recent advice from Pest Patrol, which now is no longer supported, but has been replaced (free of charge to current users) with a new Spyware called "Counterspy". I have had it installed for about a week and although I was happy with Pest patrol, Counterspy does have a number of improved features
    Ken Hillier

    1. Spyware John Taylor -- 22/12/05

      Tosh and nonsense, CA are announcing a new version of PestPatrol to be released soon and have incorporated the product into the new Integrated Threat Manager which has both a/v and Anti-Spyware. I sit on the CA Advisory Council as a UK memeber so I should know!) You are not by chance an old PestPatrol Reseller who now sells Counterspy are you Ken? Very cheap swipe at CA Ken, very cheap indeed!

  3. eTrust Pest Patrol contains the virus Win32.Bagle.4.Gen@mm. Everytime the program updates it re-download the same virus. Buyer beware on this application. Anonymous -- 26/12/04

    eTrust Pest Patrol contains the virus Win32.Bagle.4.Gen@mm. Everytime the program updates it re-download the same virus. Buyer beware on this application.

    1. Spyware John Taylor -- 22/12/05

      Yes, and what is more the tooth fairy met with Santa yesterday to discuss leaving a tube of Flouride Toothpaste under the pillow of everyone in the World on Saturday Night! Come on, lets not get silly here. You really think the World's 3rd largest Software Company ships a virus in it's products? hmmm

  4. we use officescan 6.5 in our company and even though i've followed all the steps to make sure that the spyware part of officescan is active, we still get spywares! most notable is those spywares like gator.b, gator.c. i'm the network administrat Anonymous -- 28/02/05

    we use officescan 6.5 in our company and even though i've followed all the steps to make sure that the spyware part of officescan is active, we still get spywares! most notable is those spywares like gator.b, gator.c.

    i'm the network administrator and i'm thinking of dumping officescan for a better one.

  5. readability blind bob -- 27/12/05

    black ink on a dark blue background. Good job!

    AND it never tells me my comment was submitted!

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