Spybot Search & Destroy

1. Download Spybot S&D Click here to download detailed instructions in PDF format.

Save the file to your Desktop.

Double-click the downloaded file and click Next through the installer and then Finish when it’s done.

Double-click the Spybot Search & Destroy icon.

2. First Use

  1. If you have previously used Spybot, skip to step 3 (Getting Updates).
  2. The first time you run Spybot Search & Destroy, you will be presented with a wizard that will walk you through some important tasks. The first step (Registry Backup) is not necessary, so click Next.
  3. Very important: Click the Search for Updates button. Then click Download all available updates. Once it’s done downloading, click Next.
  4. Click Immunize this system. Then click Next and Start using the program.
  5. Skip to step 4 (Scanning for Problems)

3. Getting Updates (Very Important)

  1. If you haven’t used Spybot in over a week, you should check for updates to Spybot’s detection rules. To do this, click the Search for updates button after starting Spybot.
  2. Spybot will then look for updates. If any are found, you will be presented with a screen similar to the one below:
    Getting updates screenshot
  3. First, you need to change the server. The list may not be exactly like the one above, but click the drop-down arrow and choose one of the non-European servers since they usually don’t work well. Either an Australian or USA server will usually work.
  4. Then click Download Updates. Spybot will then install the updates and restart itself if necessary.

4. Scanning for Problems

  1. On the left side, click Search & Destroy, then click the Check for problems button.
  2. After Spybot has finished searching for problems, you will be presented with a list similar to the one below.Fixing problems screenshot
  3. Make sure that the boxes of all problems found are checked.
  4. Click Fix selected problems. If Spybot tells you that it can’t fix all the problems unless it is run at the next reboot, click Yes and then restart your computer.
  5. If Spybot is running after a reboot, you may need to click Search and Destroy in the left column after the scan is complete. That will bring you to the screen detailed above.
  6. After Spybot says “Finished fixing selected problems,” you can exit.