CA Anti-Spyware
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CA Anti-Spyware is a spyware detection program distributed by CA, Inc. Until 2007, it was known as PestPatrol.
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[edit] History
PestPatrol was first issued in 2000 by PestPatrol, Inc. Among its unique features were CookiePatrol, which purges spyware cookies, and KeyPatrol, which detects keyloggers. Billing itself as the "Authority in Spyware Protection," it licensed its signature files for use in Yahoo! Companion, Stompsoft's Spyware X-terminator, Research Triangle Software's CryptoStick Software Suite and others.
Computer Associates (now CA) bought PestPatrol in 2004 and made it a part of its eTrust computer security line, which includes a virus scanner and a firewall. It was renamed CA Anti-Spyware in 2007.
The program can be bought separately, or as part of CA Internet Security.
[edit] Criticism
As one of the first for-fee anti-spyware providers, it is frequently debated in Internet circles whether CA Anti-Spyware lives up to its claim to be more authoritative than the free anti-spyware programs.[citation needed]
[edit] Extensibility
PestPatrol has allowed the public access to an ActiveX browser-based online scanner called Pestscan, and its research database with manual removal instructions, much like the antivirus vendors do. PestPatrol also reveals that its preferred testing mechanism involves testing each spyware infection (which has been allowed to fester for several days) against a clean disk image, and they encourage journalists and other software testers to test anti-spyware software --including their own-- in this manner.
