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- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/NT
- Date added: May 12, 2004
- Total Downloads: 106,186,035
- Downloads last week: 187,203
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A newer version of Spybot - Search & Destroy is available.
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 5378 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff on November 07, 2008
Spybot - Search & Destroy has been in the antispyware game for a long time offering features we've come to expect in the best apps in the category, but its bugginess makes it difficult to recommend. The program checks your system against a comprehensive database of adware and other system invaders. It also features several interface improvements, including multiple skins for dressing up its appearance. Scan results now appear arranged by groups in a tree, and a sliding panel lets you instantly view information about a selected item to help you decide whether to kill it or not. The Immunize feature blocks a plethora of uninvited Web-borne flotsam before it reaches your computer. Other useful tools, including Secure Shredder, complement the program's basic functionality for completely destroying files. Hosts File blocks adware servers from your computer, and System Startup lets you review which apps load when you start your computer. Unfortunately, the program has the tendency to lock up at times and even during the install process for this review, we encountered several errors. The ambitious feature list and functionality make Spybot - Search & Destroy a good choice for those in search of a second antispyware program, but there are others in the category that do a better job without all the bugs.
Watch the CNET video review of Spybot - Search & Destroy:
Publisher's description
From Patrick M. Kolla:Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer. Spybot also can clean program and Web-usage tracks from your system, which is especially useful if you share your computer with other users. Modules chosen for removal can be sent directly to the included file shredder, ensuring complete elimination from your system. For advanced users, it allows you to fix registry inconsistencies related to adware and to malicious program installations. The handy online-update feature ensures that Spybot always has the most current and complete listings of adware, dialers, and other uninvited system residents.
Version 1.3 adds enhanced immunization features, an improved interface, and integration of BrowserManager for spyware detection, plus the new Hosts File feature and bug fixes.
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User reviews of Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
- All versions: 4.2 starsout of 5378 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- Current version: 4.3 starsout of 1822 votes
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- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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5 stars
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"great"
Summary: very good product but ad-aware is better
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5 stars
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Totally FREE"
Pros: This is REAL freeware! no sutch thing as "pro version" , its full functional! And works!
Cons: Its not Cute G.U.I.
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5 stars
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Great Program"
Pros: Good scanning and I've had no conflicts with my other programs, Panda Anti-virus, Ad-Aware and SpywareBlaster. It's nice to see someone give their talents and resources away free for the benefit of others. Don't confuse this with Spyware Doctor which seems like the same program except with a fancier interface and costs you $$$
Donate if you can, bandwidtth isn't cheap.
Cons: It's not as pretty looking as other programs but that doesn't bother me.
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Can destroy spyware with ease! No.1!"
Pros: What can i say it removed every annoying piece of spyware that was on my computer. Updates download very quickly and the scan is very quick! You gotta have this in your arsenal against spyware
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"wow its briliant and its absuliutly free!!!!"
Pros: this freeware is amazing once you get used to you find that this freeware is mush better than the other highly rated softwares this freeware has lots of pros it has many langueges to choose from and it founds adware,cookies,spyware and lots of other good things you should download this cause is unbieliveble.
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Great little anti-spyware program"
Pros: All good as you can prob tell from the other reviews.
Very stable and reliable little helper ;)
Cons: Hmmm, none as far as I can tell, have been using this program for about 6 months; Problem free, same as the cost :D
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1 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Almost Took Out My ISP"
Summary: This was my second attempt at downloading and using this program. I also use AdAware which it recognized on install. After reading and configuring the program, which took some time as it hung up on installation (that should have been a warning sign)and it shut off my computer(warning sign number 2), I let it run a scan. It spotted a couple of pieces of spyware that AdAware allegedly did not catch. I removed them after backing them up, which was my only saving grace. It proceded to tell me there were networking errors and would not let me go online. Even after doing the restore it would not let me on, citing the network problems. I had to reboot in Safe Mode and remove it. Once I did that, things thankfully went back to normal. Stay with AdAware and do not download this program! CNet, remove it ASAP!
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5 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Protect realtime for free!"
Pros: I love the latest version with the resident spy-bot which protects your registry. You can also shut it down anytime you like.
Cons: Crashes sometimes but no worry its just a very small bug for low memory pc.
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5 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Top Freeware"
Pros: This is absolute freeware, and the download size is pretty small too, it has very high detection rates.
Cons: Userinerface needs improvement...
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4 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3
"Very good program"
Pros: Works very weel but only detects a small amount of bugs, 30-50% When using Adaware and Spybot you probley get close to 80-90% of all bugs.
Cons: only detects a small amount of bugs, 30-50%
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