|
SpyBot: Search & Destroy by Patrick M. Kolla |
SpyBot: Search and Destroy will do a through check of your computer for spyware and eliminate it without any problem. It's very fast and easy to install and use! It comes complete with some great tools too! |
|
|
Almost 3.5 megs HERE |
|
SpyBot by Patrick M. Kolla You've been on the web quite a bit recently haven't you? You've installed lots of great programs with toolbars and ads flashing all over the place didn't you? Have you noticed that you computer is starting to bog down a bit? Well, there is a lot of crap out here on the net! Especially spyware! Never mind that spyware can invade your privacy by sending specific information to outside sources on the net, it can really bog down a computer. Even the fastest computer with tons of memory will see a noticeable decrease in speed and performance with the inclusion of spyware on it's system. There are many types of spyware too! Applets, registry keys, small programs (.exe's), cookies and more. SpyBot: Search and Destroy does an excellent job of weeding out these pieces of ummmm........... crap and sending them right where they belong, down the toilet! To save your computer, read on: Platform..... Runs great on my XP Pro! Good for Win95+ and also Linux and the Mac too! Web Site.......... SpyBot's web site is nicely organized and easy to read. It comes complete with news, updates, downloads, testimonials, and is available in TONS of languages! The tutorial available on the site is especially nice. Downloading........ The
download comes from their site and was quick and immediate. No
problem. Installation.......... Well, it's the usual installation engine that gives you the EULA, asks for a place to install, then SpyBot gives you a choice as far as what gets installed for it's program files. Here's a pic of the installation window showing you these choices:
SpyBot gives some nice choices here. I did the full installation with no additional languages. Then you get the start menu selection, a review of the settings and you're on your way! No rebooting is necessary, but I always find myself doing it anyway. I guess some bad habits are just hard to break! Help Files.......... The help file for SpyBot is quite complete and includes detailed explanations of the procedures involved in working with the program, a dictionary of some of the different terms that are used (and highlighted) throughout the document, and a nice tutorial which will guide you, step by step, through your first scan! The web site also has a tutorial and a FAQ where many of your questions might be answered. There is also a SpyBot forum which is well used and very convenient. Very nice indeed! Interface & Features ........... SpyBot starts with a nicely designed opening window which gives you three large icon buttons and an explanation right next to each stating what they are for. On the left is a column giving you your operating choices. Here's a pic of the opening window:
SpyBot Search & Destroy looks for the root of spyware within your system and will run on two modes. There's the 'default' mode which is how the program is loaded, and there's the 'advanced' mode which incorporates some additional features such as auto scan. All features are available in this freeware program. Clicking 'check for problems' brings up a scanning screen and starts the process of scanning your complete system. SpyBot will check for and remove adware and spyware, keyloggers, dialers, usage tracks (so others on your computer can't follow your footsteps) and trojans. If you're lucky (and if you've never scanned before, I would suspect you won't be) you should see a screen that shows you that your system is clean. Here's a pic:
If however the program found something you'll get a screen showing you each threat that SpyBot has found. Here's a pic of the screen with some real crap:
If you click on the individual checkboxes, a window will show itself explaining that specific object, giving details about the company involved, including links, and a description. Here's a pic:
Check all of the boxes, click the 'fix selected problems' at the bottom of the window and that's it! Gone! You may be shown a window that lets you know that there is still spyware running which it can not delete. It will give you an option to run the program on your next boot up which will delete that crap before it has a chance of running again at startup or logon. Sometimes spyware is installed into your system in the background without you knowing when you are installing other software. In this case the spyware is incorporated into the program and your main program may not run properly without it's spyware installed and running too. Personally, I would stay away from ALL spyware/adware including this kind however, if there is a particular program that you must run which can't due to the removal of their spyware by SpyBot, SpyBot has a recovery mode which will replace selected spyware that you have removed. Just click the specific files and recover. From this window, you can also remove the backups made by SpyBot while cleaning when you're sure you no longer will be needing them. Here's a pic of the screen:
Another great feature to be found in SpyBot is the ability to immunize your computer from certain spyware, especially spyware which affects Microsoft's Internet Explorer. This sections enables certain functions in IE to prevent the installation of spyware in Internet Explorer. Here's a pic:
Of course, like other great freeware programs, there are many settings that can be made to SpyBot so that it will work the way you want it too. Changes can be made to the language, file sets, general settings (pictured), directories, and even skins for the program itself. Here's a pic of the setup window:
If all of this good stuff wasn't enough, SpyBot comes with a nice set of tools. For instance, SpyBot includes a file shredder which allows you to drag and drop from your file manager into a window where they become history! There is also an ActiveX lister, A 'browser pages' tool which lists the startup pages that are registered with MS Internet Explorer, a 'process list' showing all of the currently running processes on your computer, a 'system startup' listing showing all programs that begin automatically when you boot up your computer, and a 'view report' area where you can see everything that has happened to your system as a result of using SpyBot: Search and Destroy. Here's a pic of the shredder and the system startup windows, plus the listing of tools on the left:
Uninstall...... As with most programs (yes, I did say MOST!) uninstall is done via the control panel> add/remove programs. It's fast and will remove all installed files however, you'll have to remove certain directories, depending on your operating system! Nothing personal mind you! Problems...... I have never had a problem with SpyBot. In fact, it has helped me many times for both shredding, checking boot procedures, and to get rid of any crap that settles in my computer. In Closing .......... That's right, crap is made for flushing! If you don't have a spyware detector loaded on your computer, you just might want to get busy and download this thing, install it, and see if it will help your computer regain some of it's splendor! Consider it your computers toilet! Enjoy!! Buzzy J |
