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- 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: 110,936,146
- Downloads last week: 97,872
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- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 5207 votes
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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 5207 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 265 user reviewsSee all 265 user reviews
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: it does detect malware pretty well and it has frequent updates along with decent scan times
Cons: the cons outweigh the software in this case there are other malware detection and removal tools that perform better then this and look a lot nicer as well spybot used to be at the top of the list as far as free tools go it is one of the originals
Summary: this great software program of the past has been bypassed over time and in some cases even left behind by the creators it needs a much updated ( UI ) User Interface and possibly a new engine while it still detects well I have a feeling it is missing... read more >>
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: it scanned my computer fast and after i deleted it all my computer sped up by about 20x.
Cons: help section not very informative
Summary: it only took about half an hour to scan my whole computer and after it deleted it all my computer sped up by about 20x.
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Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: Spybot is just great It increases my comfort level knowing that my PC is well protected
Cons: There is nothing not to like. Your updates are timely and have proven to be just a great tool
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
"worked fine until it became the default program for mp3"
Pros: worked great for the most of the time, boyfriend thinks it caused the pc to slow down and added its own spyware
Cons: became the default program for opening mp3s and wanted to scan every mp3 before playing it
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.6.2
Pros: It has allways worked for mer
Cons: Sometimes was confusing, but I was able to use it satisfactorily
Summary: It relieved my nervousness about spyware
- See all 265 user reviews Write review
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