- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: January 26, 2009
- Total Downloads: 110,720,559
- Downloads last week: 97,718
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 5197 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 5197 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 255 user reviewsSee all 255 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: Used to work and picked up things others missed. Hopefully, it will work again.
Cons: Locks ups after scanning. Nothing can be removed.
Summary: Sad that whatever the developers did in this latest release broke something. Hopefully it will get fixed quickly.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: I have used Spybot-Search & Destroy for a couple of years, but the up-grade made a good product, better.
Cons: non at this time.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
"best one out there worth paying for"
Pros: found 71 bad pieces of ad ware ,that ad aware missed.
Cons: works great , pay for it later when you see how well it works.
Summary: works great and you can get it free if you are running low on cash, pay for it later when you see how well it works.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
"product does what it is supposed to"
Pros: I like to use it once a week or so to back up what others cant find
Cons: whats not to like?
Summary: finds viruses, spy ware, adware etc other malware, and can correct those problems.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: does a good job
Cons: I suppose some people might delete important things if they don't know what they are doing. don't like the way it blocks things you are downloading
Summary: have used it for years and still love it
- See all 255 user reviews Write review
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