Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4

Spybot S&D is a respected, effective, valuable tool, and your advisor serves you well in recommending it. I can't be sure from what you report, but I'm gonna take a couple guesses.

Windows XP may be asking you to confirm you wish to dowload the file - if so, you should confirm you wish to do so - see THIS. A popup blocker, perhaps Windows XP's own or a component of a legitimate toolbar you've installed into your browser, may be preventing the download from starting; try holding down the "Control" key while clicking to start the download.

Finally, from which website are you trying to download Spybot S&D? The download is available at, among many other reliable sites, the following:

MajorGeeks

c|net Download

TuCows

BetaNews File Forum

Security Related

Security Wonks

It was c/net that I was trying to download it from and the culprit was my yahoo pop up blocker. Once I disables that I was good to go.
Now I just have to learn how to use it, which will probably take me a decade, lol.
Thanks a million, Timber. As usual you've been a big help :-D

When it installs, the program will give you the option to "Download all updates" - let it do so. It will also step you through a Restore Point/Registry Backup process - follow through with each step Spybot wants you to do when it first installs.

• When the program has been installed and updated, select "Immunize", click the green "+" plus-sign symbol at the top of the page to install Spybot's immunization, and follow any prompts.
  
  
• On that same page, click to place a checkmark in the "Browser Helper to block bad downloads ..." button, then, from the dropdown below that, select "Block all bad pages silently".
  
  
• At the top left of the main page, click "Mode", then select "Advanced"
  
  
• Click "Tools", and make sure everything in the right-hand panel EXCEPT "View Report" and "Bug Report" is checkmarked.
  
  
• Select "Resident" and on that page's right-hand panel, make sure only "Resident SD Helper" is checked, do not activate "Tea Timer"
  
  
• Click "Tools", and make sure everything in the right-hand panel EXCEPT "View Report" and "Bug Report" is checkmarked.
  
  
• Select "Resident" and on that page's right-hand panel, make sure only "Resident SD Helper" is checked, do not activate "Tea Timer"
  
  NOTE: DO NOT SELECT Spybot S&D's "TeaTimer" option at this time; its still sorta buggy, especially with WinXP.
  
  
• Click "Hosts File", and at the top of that page's right-hand panel, click the green "+" plus-sign to install Spybot S&D's HOSTS list.
  
  
• Next, click "Settings", then in that page's right-hand panel, select "File Sets"; everything in he right-hand panel under "Spybot - Search and Dstroy" should be checkmarked. "Usage Tracking" is optional and non-critical, but I recommend you select it too; doing so will help keep your machine free of Temporary File clutter.
  
  
• Click "Ignore Products", and in that page's right-hand panel, under the "All Products" tab, make sure NOTHING is checked
  
  
• With the one-time setup done, now click "Spybot S&D", select "Check for Problems", and let the scan run to completion (which could take a while)
  
  
• When the scan has completed, it will present in the right-hand panel a report of what it has found; be certain everything listed in RED[/color] is checked, then click the "Fix Selected Items" icon, and confirm. Items listed in GREEN are optional; they're non-malicious, non-critical internal tracking and temporary files. I suggest you select them as well, but that's your call.
  
  
• It is possible Spybot S&D might report it encountered a problem with a particular nasty, and request permission to run again at next boot. If this happens, grant permission and reboot immediately. When it has completed its reboot scan, reboot into safe mode, run another full scan, then reboot normally.

You should run Spybot S&D at least a couple times a month, and you should update it before running it.

Okie Dokie. I already did a bunch of that stuff, but I also did the "teatimer" as well.
Can I undo it?

You're awesome, Timber :-D

Hmmmm ... I see I shoulda checked that "How To" post and done a little correcting - oh, well, next time. The idea is unimpaired. Sorry for the confusion/duplication.

Sure, you can undo it - just go to "Tools", click "Resident", and de-select "Teatimer". Mebbe you might wanna leave it and see how it goes for a while; it doesn't cause everyone problems (mostly browsing slowdowns, though there have been reports of other problems, including browser hangs and crashes), and the idea behind it is good. If it works for you, fine, if it causes problems, switch it off.

Great, I'll do that. I haven't had time to check everything out yet, but everything is working fine so far.

Thanks a lot, Timber. I really appreciate it :-D

Spybot S&D rocks!

Microsoft Antispyware Sucks! (Some People say "Windows" itself is a Spyware.... LOL )

McAfee Antispyware is the strictest. Every crack and patch is blocked. This way I won't be able to run any full version software on my PC ( )

Thats the 3, I have tried. So far Spybot S&D rules.

But these days its free updates feature seems not to be working. I get errors (Checksum error) when I try to update it. It used to work 3-4 months back.

vinsan, use the dropdown to select a different download mirror

OK I will do that.

Thx.

Awesome. Thanks for the info. Everything seems to be working well so far :-)