Installing and Using Spybot Search & Destroy

Installing Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6.0

Click here to download Spybot Search & Destroy. Save the file to your desktop. When you have downloaded Spybot Search & Destroy, double-click on the executable (.exe) file.

1. Select the language to use during the installation and click OK.
   
   

2. On the Welcome screen click Next.
   
   

3. On the License Agreement screen, select "I Accept the agreement" and click Next.
   
   

4. On the Select Destination Location screen click Next.
   
   

5. On the Select Components screen click Next.
   
   

6. On the Select Start Menu Folder screen click Next.
   
   

7. On the Select Additional Tasks screen, select the addition tasks you would like Setup to perform and click Next.
   Note: The ITS Help Desk recommends not checking the Use system settings protection (Tea Timer) as this feature can slow down the performance of the computer.
   
   

8. On the Ready to Install screen click Install.
   
   

9. After Spybot Search & Destroy has finished installing, click Finish.
   
   

10. When initially launched, Spybot Search & Destroy will ask you to create a registry back up.  Click the Create registry backup button.
    
     
    
    NOTE: You can safely ignore any compatibility warnings between Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware, if you have Ad-Aware installed as well.

11. After creating a registry backup, Spybot Search & Destroy will prompt you to check for product updates. While connected to the Internet, click the Search for updates button.
    
    
    
    You will need to select a download place to download the updates from. For example, if you are living in the USA, select a location from the USA and click Continue.  
    
    
    
    If updates are found, check them and click the Download button. When the updates are finished downloading, click Exit.
    
    
    

12. Once up-to-date, you should apply some basic Immunization by clicking Immunize this system.
    Note: There is a known issue with Spybot and Vista that will not let you immunize the system unless you "run as administrator." For more information, click here.
    
    

13. Now that all the initial settings have been done, click Start using the program.
    
    

Updating and Using Spybot Search & Destroy

You should update and run Spybot Search & Destroy on a regular basis to check for and remove spyware.

1. Start Spybot Search & Destroy by double-clicking on the Spybot Search & Destroy icon your desktop or selecting Spybot Search & Destroy from the Start menu (Start > All Programs > Spybot Search & Destroy > Spybot Search & Destroy).

2. While connected to the Internet, click the Search for Updates button.
   
   

3. You will need to select a download place to download the updates from. For example, if you are living in the USA, select a location from the USA and click Continue.  
   
   
   
   If updates are found, check them and click the Download button. When the updates are finished downloading, click Exit.
   
   
   

4. After downloading updates, click the Search & Destroy icon on the left, then click the Check for problems button to scan your computer.
   
    

5. If spyware problems are detected, click the Fix selected problems button, then click Yes and OK to confirm the removal of the objects.
   
   
   
   NOTE: You may wish to use the Immunize feature of Spybot Search & Destroy, which will prevent many spyware programs from being installed on your computer in the first place. Click the Immunize icon on the left, then click the Immunize button at the top of the screen.