Do you have any malware, spyware, or adware removal programs?

Spybot Installation Tips

And Information Manual

Tech. Support Advisory

“Before you download Spybot please read the warning below”

Warning

"If you have Trend Micro or Kaspersky Internet Security, do not install Spybot due to incompatibilities with each other. Both of these packages include spyware/malware prevention and cleaning, so you wouldn't need it anyway.”

What is Spybot?

Spybot is not a program purchased from, manufactured by, or even directly related to the VBTC or MOPHSF in any way. This information sheet is merely for student reference for more information in regards to this free (and relatively safe) program. Spybot - Search & Destroy (often Spybot-S&D) is a popular malware, spyware and adware removal program which works on Microsoft Windows 95 and later. Like most malware scanners, Spybot-S&D scans the computer hard disk and/or RAM for malicious software.

Spybot was written by the German software engineer Patrick Michael Kolla, and is distributed by Kolla's Irish company Safer Networking Limited. Development began in 2000 when Kolla, still a student, wrote a small program to deal with the Aureate/Radiate and Conducent TimeSink programs, two of the earliest examples of adware.

Licensing

Spybot - Search & Destroy is currently released as freeware. However, the fine print of the license indicates a commercial distribution is maintained by Safer Networking Limited for any such use.

Spybot features

Spybot can fix problems with tracking cookies, system internals (Registry), Winsock LSPs, ActiveX objects, browser hijackers and BHOs, and can to some extent protect a user's privacy by deleting usage tracks. Spybot also includes an "Immunize" feature to block the installation of spyware before it occurs. Another tool included in Spybot is a file shredder, for the secure deletion of files. Spybot is not intended to replace anti-virus programs, but it does detect some common trojans.

A Tea-Timer module can be optionally enabled, which provides a level of active, real-time protection from undesirable registry changes and such; it is unusual for such a feature to be offered as part of a free anti-spyware program.

As some programs that ship with attached spyware or adware will refuse to run should the unwelcome co-programs be removed, later versions of Spybot allow it to replace the spyware binaries with inert dummies (designed to fool those programs which insist on the spyware's presence).

In order to efficiently detect recently created programs, Kolla regularly releases detection updates along with help improvements, new languages, and better heuristics algorithms. These updates are downloaded from within the software from a variety of mirrors and are then automatically installed.

Spybot is available for all versions of Windows from Windows 95, and offers more than two dozen different languages and several skins to users. Instructions are available on the website so users can design their own skins.

Support is currently supplied by means of Internet forums and support e-mails (with a response time of usually no more than 24 hours).

Support and awards

Spybot has been applauded for its ease of use and installation, free support and updates, ability to undo every step, and its excellent feature set. Spybot has won numerous awards, including the World Class 2003 Awards, the PC Magazine Editors Choice and PC User Top Buy #1. Spybot has also been recommended by ZDNet, the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, MSNBC, CNN and other reviewers.

Malicious clones

Many people have made Spybot 'clones' using exactly the same detection database, and sometimes the same User Interface, simply changing the name of the program (and the donation link) to claim credit for it. Some clones have been made by spyware manufacturers to make programs that pose as anti-spyware programs, but actually install spyware themselves. Kolla has stated that he will take legal action against the rogue/suspect spyware companies who are involved in the manufacturing of these clones, if he finds them. Will often result in a paid advertisement for "spyware", rogue software taking the "search and destroy" logo, as well as the Spybot name to fool users into downloading their product instead of the original Spybot.

Compatibility with Symantec Internet Security

The makers of Spybot have recently come into conflict over claims of incompatibility with Norton Internet Security. Symantec is recommending the uninstallion of Spybot Search and Destroy before installing Norton Internet Security. According to Safer-Networking no satisfactory explanation was given to them. However, Mary Landesman suggests a possible explanation for this may stem from a graphical glitch in Tea-Timer module's confirmation dialog. An official explanation of the bug states that it stemmed from a bug in the program used to build their code. The result of the bug was that users had difficulty correctly selecting allow letting Norton Internet Security make needed changes to critical registry areas such as allowing itself to launch on startup. Aside from this Mary Landesman like Safer-networking concludes that the two programs have no issue with one another. The bug exists only in the 1.4 version of Spybot-Search Destroy and has been fixed as of the newest release.