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Our charter — how we test & write

MadDoktor2 is an independent resource for malware removal, anti-spyware and PC security and privacy. This charter is the set of rules we hold ourselves to. If a guide here ever breaks one of them, it's a bug — tell us on the contact page.

1. Honesty before clicks

We never invent statistics, test results, lab benchmarks, awards or user numbers. We don't claim to have personally tested software we haven't, and we don't dress up vendor marketing as our own findings. When we cite a number or a claim, it comes from a named, checkable source.

2. No fearmongering

Security writing is full of scare tactics designed to push a purchase. We don't do that. We explain what a threat actually is, how likely it is to affect you, what genuinely helps, and — just as important — what does not help. A free, built-in tool that solves your problem is a better answer than an expensive suite you don't need.

3. Clear, useful steps

Every removal guide aims to be something you can actually follow on a real, possibly infected, Windows PC: what the symptom looks like, which tool to use, the exact steps, and how to confirm the machine is clean afterwards. We state the limits of each method plainly.

4. Affiliate transparency

Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we'd be comfortable using ourselves, affiliate or not, and we mark sponsored links clearly. Read the full affiliate disclosure.

5. Independence

MadDoktor2 is run independently. We are not the old discussion forum or community that once used this domain, and we don't claim any affiliation with it — see the heritage page for the honest history. Our recommendations are not paid placements: a vendor cannot buy a better rating here.

6. Privacy of our own readers

We practice what we write about. Analytics load only after you accept, IPs are anonymised, and we collect no more than we need. See our privacy policy.