Among the most celebrated and most life-saving security programs in Windows history, there is one of those names that was almost impossible not to know: SpyBot Search and destroy . For those who do not know it, it is a special free anti-malware program capable not only of blocking access to dangerous websites with a browser and system immunization function, but also of removing all malware, tracking cookies, adware and any type of code that transmits information externally.
A few days ago you can download Spybot 2, the new version of the famous anti-spyware software, with many, perhaps too many, new features.
When you go to download the free version of Spybot 2 from the Safer-Networking official site, you immediately notice a problem: the download of the installation software is 52.9 MB, decidedly many for this type of program.
Spybot Search and Destroy, which I personally use for years to remove adware and spyware that are not detected by normal antivirus and that makes you feel safer when you surf the internet, has become, in version 2, almost a bloatware, that is, unnecessarily large software full of tools that were absolutely not needed.
For this reason it must be installed being careful to disable some of its components.
In the installation procedure, choose the mode of use with greater control that allows you to choose the components.
Professional tools and analysis tools can therefore be deactivated at least.
Of the additional processes, turn everything off, so scheduling isn't available in the free version of Spybot.
The Spybot 2 Start Center contains the buttons to start all the tools and functions of the program : scan, update, immunization, modification of settings and other things.
Check, first of all, if there are updates to install and, only after this operation, perform the first scan of the system to remove spyware or malware.
After the scan (rather long), use the immunization tool to apply permanent protection on the Firefox and Internet Explorer and Opera browsers and for some Windows components.
To verify that the PC is immunized, check that the number of unprotected elements is zero, otherwise immunize again.
Immunization, in addition to previously blocking cookies, spyware and dangerous sites on Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera, adds several entries to the hosts file preventing any browser on the computer from opening certain websites considered dangerous and virus carriers.
From the Start Center, in advanced mode, you can start the useful rootkit scan tool to check if there are infections in the Windows boot.
Other tools included in the program are the Windows recovery system, computer startup management (very complete), the chopper to delete files safely and several others.
SpyBot Search and Destroy 2 is an excellent scan tool, but it remains running in the background with some processes (SDTray.exe, SDWelcome.exe ....) including that of updating and scanning services.
In the program settings, however, you can disable Spybot's system services so that they do not start automatically when the computer is turned on and do not waste memory when not in use.
Spybot Search And destroy 2 however remains among the best Antispyware and antimalware programs, recommended for everyone in its free version.
