- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/Vista/NT
- Date added: January 26, 2009
- Total Downloads: 112,667,976
- Downloads last week: 113,150
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 5323 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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 bugs and false positives make 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 a good choice for those in search of a second antispyware program, and recent updates have made it run faster. It still makes errors in flagging spyware that isn't, and overall there are others in the category that do a better job.
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. 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.
What's new in this version:
Version 1.6.2 features support for the latest Opera releases, support for Google Chrome, and improved support for fast user switching while Spybot is running.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 5323 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 381 user reviewsSee all 381 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: No cost for download
Cons: None I have found
Summary: Work very well
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: REMOVED ALL SPYWARE AND MORE
Cons: NO CONS AT ALL
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: have had it before and it was great
Cons: If there is a con, I don't know what it is.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
"It seems to work. What else could you want?"
Pros: Whenever my computer acts like there's something wrong with it, I run spybot and it will usually find a cause and I can eliminate it.
Cons: If there is a con, I don't know what it is.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
"Never ever found anything on my pc!!!"
Pros: Being free. Maybe immunization can be helpful. That's all.
Cons: Inefficient, the real time protection is awfull (takes lots of resources), You can't trust this software to keep you away from malwares.
Summary: I have used almost all free Spyware removers!! This one is not efficient at all (maybe for me!). Never ever found anything on my pc after 3 months use. While other products like Malware Bytes found many dangerous ones. There are much better free spy... read more >>
- See all 381 user reviews Write review
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