Spybot

Malware and spyware present big problems for computer users. When these applications are attached to browsers, media players, and other free programs, the user's computer system can slow to a crawl. Spybot has been providing its software to identify and remove these threats for many years. The basic version of the program is free to download, and it can also be placed on a USB stick and ran without the need for installation on an infected system. When first installed, the user is given a choice of customizing a scanning schedule or letting Spybot make the choices. Users can also tweak various settings. Taking the time to make adjustments will benefit the user, because Spybot can run very slow. It also has a tendency to slow down all other computer processes while it does its work. The first thing users will want to do after creating their own settings is to update the program's database of spyware. This takes only a few minutes and will provide security against the most recent threats that have been discovered. It is then recommended that users allow the program to update regularly. After everything has been updated, the user can then proceed with their first scan. It is possible to scan the entire system or scan selected files. It is recommended that a full scan be performed, and that's where this program begins to show its weaknesses. It is very slow. The process can take an eternity. On the positive side, the program is thorough and will find most threats. After the scan has been completed, the user is given a list of malware and spyware that has been located. There is a one-click option to remove the infections. Problems that cannot be removed are quarantined. Finally, it is possible immunize the system against these threats in the future. This is a great option, but it doesn't always work so well in practice. Spybot can incorrectly identify threats and prevent the download of harmless software. As a basic spyware remover, this program works very well. It is very slow, however, compared to the protection it provides. Users should also know that Spybot does not replace anti-virus protection. It merely complements it.