PC Tools (company)

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PC Tools
Company type
Subsidiary
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Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Number of locations
Luxembourg
United States
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Ireland
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dave Cole
(Vice President and General Manager)
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Number of employees
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ParentSymantec
Websitewww.pctools.com

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PC Tools (formerly known as WinGuides[1]) was a software company founded in 2003[2] and acquired by Symantec in 2008; the new owner eventually discontinued the PC Tools name. Company headquarters were in Australia, with offices in Luxembourg, the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Ukraine. The company had previously developed and distributed security and optimization software for the Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows platforms.[3][4]

Products

By 29 November 2006 software owned by PC Tools had been downloaded over 125 million times.[5]

Products
Name Version Last Release Date Notes
Browser Defender 3.0.0.312 12 May 2011 [6]
PC Tools Antivirus 9 Unavailable [7]
PC Tools Desktop Maestro 3.1.0.232 16 November 2009 [8]
PC Tools File Recover 9 31 October 2011 [9]
PC Tools iAntiVirus 1.36 28 August 2009 [10]
PC Tools Internet Security 9 Unavailable [11]
PC Tools Performance Toolkit 2 31 October 2011 [12]
PC Tools Privacy Guardian 4.5 Unavailable [13]
PC Tools Registry Mechanic 11 31 October 2011 [14]
PC Tools Simple Backup 3 Unavailable [15]
PC Tools Spyware Doctor 9 Unavailable [16]
PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 9 Unavailable [17]
Miscellaneous Products
Name Notes
PC Tools Browser Explorer [18]
Startup Explorer [19]
ThreatExpert [20]

PC Tools Browser Defender

PC Tools Browser Defender,[6] also called Browser Defender for short, is a browser toolbar for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browsers on Windows based computers. Browser Defender allows for safe web surfing.

PC Tools iAntiVirus

iAntivirus was updated in 2012 and rebranded under Symantec's Norton brand.

PC Tools iAntiVirus is free antivirus software for Intel based Apple Macintosh computers running Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard) and Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) initially released in June 2008, used to detect and remove malware, spyware and malicious exploits, using both signature-based and heuristic detection.

AntiVirus was criticized because it only scans for Macintosh viruses, ignoring Windows and Linux viruses. It was praised for its speed and low usage of system resources.[21][22][23][24]

PC Tools Internet Security

PC Tools Internet Security,[11] was the combination of the Spyware Doctor product the Firewall product and the Anti-Spam product. It provided the functionality of all three stand alone products into a single seamless product. Symantec is no longer offering this product as of 18 May 2013. It was payware designed for Windows 8 (32-/64-bit), Windows 7 (32-/64-bit), Windows Vista (32-/64-bit) and Windows XP (32-bit).

PC Tools Registry Mechanic

PC Tools Registry Mechanic,[14] the first software PC Tools released,[25] scanned the Windows registry to find errors. Version 11, released on 31 October 2011, is the last one.

PC Tools Spyware Doctor

File:PC Tools Spyware Doctor.png
Screenshot of PC Tools Spyware Doctor

PC Tools Spyware Doctor,[16] is anti-malware software. Spyware Doctor detects malware based on indicators of compromise using its spider technology.[26] The most recent version of Spyware Doctor is 9, which was released on 31 October 2011. Symantec is no longer offering this product as of 18 May 2013.[27]

Former employees noticed an increasing number of malware, spyware and other threats targeting macOS and Apple devices. As of 2019, Spyware Doctor has been remade on macOS and included as part of the iBoostUp with Spyware Doctor Mac[28] application suite. Spyware Doctor for Mac has been tested and certified OPSWAT Platinum.[29]

PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus

PC Tools Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus[17] has the same features as Spyware Doctor, with added anti-virus capabilities.[30] Symantec has not sold this since 2013; v9 is the last one available.

ThreatExpert

The ThreatExpert[20] Web site says that it is an advanced automated threat analysis system (initialized ATAS) built to analyze and report the actions of malware in a fully automated mode.[31] As of March 2015 the latest version was beta version 1.0.1.0 of 1 March 2008. There have been no updates since March 2008, and the Web site seems inactive.

Acquisition by Symantec

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". On 18 August 2008, Symantec announced the signing of an agreement to acquire PC Tools such that PC Tools would maintain separate operations.[32] The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Symantec acquired PC Tools for US$262,000,000 on 6 October 2008.[33]

Symantec withdrew the entire PC Tools security portfolio, comprising PC Tools Internet Security, Spyware Doctor and Spyware Doctor with Antivirus, on 18 May 2013;[34] PC Tools was not sold and could not be renewed from 4 December 2013. Symantec said that this would not affect PC Tools Utilities products.

Reception

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Spyware Doctor received the PC World Best Buy award in the October 2007 issue of the magazine saying "PC Tools' Spyware Doctor 5.0 was the winner, outperforming the competition at detecting and removing our test set of adware and spyware samples."[35]

Spyware Doctor has received several Editors' Choice awards from PC Magazine,[36] including one for Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5 in 2008.[37] The product has also received numerous other awards from around the globe.

Not all reviews have been positive and early versions of Spyware Doctor 5.0, which the company rewrote from scratch, received some negative commentary.[38]

Criticism

Symantec was unsuccessfully sued by a Washington resident for running fake scans to get people to pay for subscriptions to PC Tools's Registry Mechanic, Performance Toolkit, and Norton Utilities[39] The lawsuit claims the company intentionally ran the fake scans and the results were not real.[40]

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools Guides for Windows". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC TOOLS RESEARCH PTY LTD". Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2008.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Symantec acquire three more security companies". Network Security. 2002 (7): 3. July 2002. doi:10.1016/s1353-4858(02)07005-8. ISSN 1353-4858.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vamosi, Robert. "PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2007 review: PC Tools Spyware Doctor 2007". CNET. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools' software passes the 125 million download threshold". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  6. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Browser Defender™". PC Tools. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ AntiVirus Free". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Release of Desktop Maestro v3.1.0.232". PC Tools. Retrieved 9 December 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ File Recover". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools iAntiVirus". PC Tools. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  11. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ Internet Security". PC Tools. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ Performance Toolkit". PC Tools. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ Privacy Guardian Internet Privacy Software". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  14. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools Registry Mechanic™". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools™ Simple Backup™ Automatic Backup Software". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  16. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools Spyware Doctor™ AntiSpyware Software". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  17. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools Spyware Doctor™ with AntiVirus". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools Browser Explorer". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Startup Explorer". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  20. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."ThreatExpert". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  21. ^ iAntiVirus 1.0 Antivirus & Security Software Review | Macworld
  22. ^ PC Tools iAntiVirus review from TechRadar UK's expert reviews of Anti malware software
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."iAntiVirus for Mac (Free) – Worth Using? » TipsFor.us". Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."iAntiVirus is lean, simple antimalware protection for Macs | TechBlog | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle". Archived from the original on 19 March 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Registry Mechanic Released". PC Tools. Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."News".
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Saudi Arabia: Freedom on the Net 2023 Country Report". Freedom House. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Spyware Doctor for Mac".
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Partners - iBoostUp".
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."PC Tools AntiVirus engine". Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."ThreatExpert: Introduction". ThreatExpert. Archived from the original on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Symantec to Acquire PC Tools". Symantec. Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."SEC Form 10-K, Symantec Corp, period: April 3, 2009, p. 82" (PDF). Symantec. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Official Site | Norton™ - Antivirus & Anti-Malware Software". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  35. ^ Naraine, Ryan. "PC Tools Spyware Doctor 5.0 Review" Script error: No such module "webarchive"., PC World, 21 August 2007
  36. ^ Rubenking, Neil. "Weeding out the spys - Editors' Choice: Spyware Doctor 3.2", PC Magazine, 19 June 2005
  37. ^ Rubenking, Neil. "Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus 5.5 - Editors' Choice Review", PC Magazine, 22 January 2008
  38. ^ Vamosi, Robert. "Nettlesome glitches sink Spyware Doctor 5", CNN, 29 March 2007
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Yin, Sara (12 January 2012). "Symantec Sued for Scareware Tactics". PC Magazine. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Greenberg, Andy (11 January 2012). "Lawsuit Claims Symantec "Scareware" Warns Of Fake Threats To Sell Upgrades". Forbes. Retrieved 22 January 2012.

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