Annihilate spyware and adware hidden on your hard drive.

Who's watching you compute? In this age of data insecurity and unscrupulous online spyware, Spybot has made a name for itself as the premier ad and spyware killer. Much to the delight of its followers, Spybot creator Patrick Kolla has released an update to his popular freeware. Today we'll explore its new and improved features and show you how to find and eliminate spies on your hard drive.

Free software sometimes comes at a price. Developers often release free versions of programs as adware so that they can pay the bills. You're subjected to advertising every time you use the program.

Most adware programs are also spyware -- they report back to the "mothership" about your surfing habits. Many of these advertising companies claim that the information is anonymous or specifically used to target ads, but do you really want to take that chance with your privacy? We didn't think so.

Eliminate spyware
SpyBot -- Search & Destroy (SpyBot-S&D) will find adware and spyware modules on your hard drive and remove them. When you run this program for the first time, you'll be shocked to discover how much spyware is on your hard drive. Detecting and removing spyware is only one of the many things this program can do for you. Here's what else it detects:
  • Key loggers
  • Some trojans
  • Internet dialers
  • Browser hijackers
  • Several other nasties you may have picked up in your travels through cyberspace


Just think of all the information this stuff's been gathering. Here's how to get rid of it:
  1. Launch the program.
  2. Click the Search & Destroy icon and Check for Problems. Spybot scours your system.
  3. Peruse the list and uncheck anything you want to keep on your system. Entries in red are most dangerous.
  4. Click "Fix Selected Problems."


Once these modules are removed the related programs could stop working. No worries. SpyBot-S&D lets you restore the programs to their original form with its Recovery tool. You can also use the new Exclude feature to exclude specific programs, files, and cookies from the watchful eye of Spybot. It's great if you have spyware you need to keep in order to use a program, as is the case with KaZaA.

With previous versions of Spybot-S&D you needed to regularly check your system for spies. The Immunize feature included in the latest version reduces the number of intruders you'll find. It acts like a vaccine, preventing known spyware agents from installing themselves on your system.
  1. Click the Immunize icon.
  2. Click the Immunize button.


Erase your tracks
As if that weren't enough, SpyBot-S&D will also clean your tracks.
  1. Select "Usage tracks check only" from the "Fix sets" drop-down menu.
  2. Click "Fix the selected problems."


We're not just talking about the usual Internet browser stuff. Sure, it'll let you clear cookies, URL history, and Temp files. But it'll also let you clear stuff in individual programs, including lists of recently viewed photos in your favorite imaging program and text in Word. Did we mention it can also find and fix invalid registry entries?

Spybot-S&D also lets you permanently and securely remove files you no longer want or need. Just click Tools and choose Secure Shredder.

In addition to Secure Shredder, the Tools area has a host of new utilities to help you manage your system and delete documents completely, including:
  • Host file
    The standard browser host file is a list of known websites and IP addresses you actively want to block. Spybot lets you add its list of known spyware proliferators to the host file.
  • Process list
    A list of actively running applications on your PC.
  • System startup
    A list of programs that launch when Windows loads.


Click "Online" to find another group of utilities designed to keep Spybot current. It includes an update feature, a bug report feature, and a spam opt-out email list.

SpyBot-S&D does it all.

Download Spybot -- Search & Destroy now