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SpyCatcher 3.0 Enterprise has the least-mature central console of the products we reviewed, and its integrated spyware scan engine is a generation behind that used in Tenebrils stand-alone consumer-grade product.
Click here to read the full review of SpyCatcher 3.0 Enterprise.
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SpyCatcher has the least-mature central console of the products we reviewed, and its integrated spyware scan engine is a generation behind that used in Tenebrils stand-alone consumer-grade product.
We used SpyCatchers tools to create an .msi file and distributed the client agent using Microsoft Active Directory Group Policy. After the agent installs, the associated Satellite service starts on the client and checks the server for policy updates. Rather than using an internal distribution server, signature updates must be downloaded from Tenebrils servers by each client.
SpyCatcher groups spyware according to general categories when deciding what to scan for, but administrators must make an individual cleaning decision for each infection strain found. However, SpyCatcher did allow us to create our own fingerprints to look out for applications or malware that might not be in the signature database.
Although SpyCatcher was the only product in our tests that let us throttle CPU usage during scans, the scan engine loads the signature database into memory. This causes SpyCatcher to use upward of 130MB of RAM during a scan, which rendered our clients effectively useless until the scan was completed.
SpyCatcher did clean many spyware traces, but a mop-up scan showed that it left more traces than any product we tested. It was tough deciphering this from the console, and we resorted to manually checking each clients logs. We had to use each clients Detective feature to disable many common spyware traces, such as Precision Time or Gain, which were active in memory.
During tests, SpyCatchers reporting mechanism never produced anything but a blank report. Tenebril officials confirmed our findings and provided a patch, but we were unable to test the patch before this review went to press.
Tenebrils pricing falls in the middle of the pack: A one-year subscription to SpyCatcher 3.0 Enterprise costs $22 per license for 100 licenses or $17 per license for 500 licenses. Additional discounts are available for multiyear subscriptions.
Technical Analyst Andrew Garcia can be reached at andrew_garcia@ziffdavis.com.