Spybot Search and Destroy searches your hard drive for so-called spy- or adbots; that is, little modules that are responsible for the ads many programs display. Many of these modules also transmit information, including your surfing behavior on the Internet. If it finds such modules, it can remove them. In most cases the host still runs fine after removing the spyware/adware.

Another feature is the removal of usage tracks, which makes it more complicated for unknown spybots to transmit useful data. The list of last visited websites, opened files, started programs, cookies, all that and more can be cleaned. Supported are the three major browsers Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, and Opera.

<center>Download it here!</center>

<center>Changelog since last public 1.2 release</center>
:: 1.2.1 beta 0
- fixed fix confirmation dialog
- fixed some english texts
- fixed 'back to results list' button on product info page
- program now updates uninstall information if 1.1->1.2
- program now updates start menu link
- installer creates an advanced mode desktop icon, too
- removed autoclose option at program start
- added button to stop auto-scan
- easy/advanced mode switchable from menu
- updated credits page
- fixed flickering of progress bar
- speed-up about 10%
- added status text for undoing immunization
- export results to HTML file
- fixed detection of *.tmp / disabled items
- improved task killing (of files to be deleted)
- fixed 120 dpi problems by not scaling controls
- fixed problem with systemstart automation settings vanishing
- renamed easy mode to default mode
- added warning/confirmation dialog before switching to advanced mode
- added warning/confirmation dialog when enabling beta updates
- System Startup (registry) more compatible with MSConfig
- System Startup (autostart) more compatible with MSConfig (display only)
- fixed proxy import if proxies for multiple protocols are set
- fixed problem with proxy authentication for update
- (2003-07-14) now updates process list after killing a task
- (2003-07-14) updated CLSID database
- (2003-07-17) added support for 'Local Page' hijacker registry value
- (2003-07-22) added 'please wait' dialog during update
- (2003-07-28) improved 'please wait' with additional message
- (2003-07-28) added german version info resource
- (2003-07-28) added verification of update.exe before update
- (2003-07-28) added adding/removing scheduler task
- (2003-07-31) prepared immunize to be exported into DLL
- (2003-08-03) "anti-freeze" against user interface freeze during update
- (2003-08-03) 4 external files prepared for verification

:: 1.2.1 beta 1
- (2003-08-05) fixed authentication problem on Win 9x
- (2003-08-05) fixed creation of emtpy 'Backup' (instead of 'Backups') folder
- (2003-08-06) fixed translation problem with mode menu
- (2003-08-06) fixed skin problem in middle status bar panel
- (2003-08-06) sheduler 'add button' now available
- (2003-08-12) fixed TempDir search for Common Files
- (2003-08-13) added scan by additional criteria
- (2003-08-15) added BHO removal
- (2003-08-15) added ActiveX (DPF) removal

:: 1.2.1 beta 2
- (2003-08-20) AutoStart command with checksum verification
- (2003-08-26) 'Fix' was available when using 'Select all' during scan
- (2003-08-27) 'DesktopIcon/StartmenuItem with checksum

:: 1.2.1 beta 3
- (2003-08-28) added 'Home page' entry to Help menu
- (2003-08-29) improved hosts file add algorithm
- (2003-08-29) added removal of selected hosts
- (2003-09-02) added fix for duplicate start menu entries
- (2003-09-02) added progress bar to update status window
- (2003-09-02) moved IE locks to new 'IE tweaks' page
- (2003-09-02) added IE title to IE tweake page
- (2003-09-02) updated process list code to showe modules
- (2003-09-02) process list will show parent of selected bold
- (2003-09-02) using new zip component version
- (2003-09-03) shredder-add-dialog shows read-only as well
- (2003-09-05) improved support for right-to-left languages
- (2003-09-06) language selection working better again (new bug)
- (2003-09-06) Made run/runonce options mutually exclusive

:: 1.3 beta 4
- (2003-09-08) ext viewer checkboxes now display change dialog
- (2003-09-09) moved contents of Excludes to Settings
- (2003-09-09) moved contents of Online to Main, Tools, Info
- (2003-09-10) moved System Internals to their own Tools page
- (2003-09-14) changed uninstaller to display warning
- (2003-09-14) new sbi format with 20% file size thanks to compression
- (2003-09-15) improved lsp removal integration by reimplementing Winsock command
- (2003-09-15) new command line switch to force advanced mode
- (2003-09-15) load configuration from remote location
- (2003-09-15) password protection for settings possible
- (2003-09-17) improved startup list display
- (2003-09-22) revision of recovery page
- (2003-09-22) new templates in shredder section
- (2003-09-24) detection of last update date (manual updater) improved
- (2003-09-24) new scheduler code allowing more comfortable edit
- (2003-09-25) Updated immunize page by moving the Immunize buttons
- (2003-10-06) Fixed scaling for compatiblity warning pag
- (2003-10-07) Added filesize to system startup report
- (2003-10-07) Recognize all system startup files
- (2003-10-08) Main results list as virtual treeview
- (2003-10-08) results & recovery toolbars moved to the top
- (2003-10-08) InfoPanel symbols
- (2003-10-09) Skins section revised
- (2003-10-13) System Startup info like new problem info
- (2003-10-15) Fixed advanced mode icon problem
- (2003-10-20) Creation of system restore point during spyware fix
- (2003-10-20) Creation of system restore point during internals fix
- (2003-10-21) "Wait for programs": oriented vertically for long filenames
- (2003-10-21) "Wait for programs": added hint/tooltip for long filenames
- (2003-10-21) Removed old button panel

:: 1.3 beta 5
- (2003-10-23) system startup snapshots (shows changes in System Startup list)
- (2003-10-24) Fixed donation icon doubling on selecting default mode
- (2003-10-24) New context menu entry to remove from the sysinternals exclude list
- (2003-10-24) Fixed purge bug appearing on second purge
- (2003-10-25) Fixed: Snapshot folder is created if doesn't exist
- (2003-10-25) Fixed: formProgress no longer updated correctly
- (2003-10-27) Language selection now displays texts in their own codepage
- (2003-10-27) Re-assigned smtp bug report events
- (2003-11-02) Fixed crash on purge by re-reading contents
- (2003-11-02) Updated get update date function because of crash
- (2003-11-02) Added information dialog during creation of System Restore point
- (2003-11-02) Storing state and position of right info panels
- (2003-11-04) Removed Strg+X shortcut re: conflict cut
- (2003-11-04) Moved shredder into separate class
- (2003-11-04) Added startup benchmarking
- (2003-11-05) Respects DontAsk setting for program start
- (2003-11-05) Implemented new incFileManager for faster read of inc files at start
- (2003-11-05) Added delay window at startup
- (2003-12-01) Fixed huge delay in scan
- (2003-12-01) Added 'show in explorer' to process & module list
- (2003-12-16) Added new ShotAtHome variant to tools.dll detection
- (2004-01-08) Supports encrypted language files
- (2004-01-08) Added statistics
- (2004-01-09) Location of mirror selection list moved
- (2004-01-14) Made license text Unicode compatible
- (2004-01-21) reverified right-to-left support (for languages like Hebrew)
- (2004-01-22) wizard again shown on first start
- (2004-01-22) added browse dialog for external helper apps
- (2004-01-22) added sound for good search result (clean system)
- (2004-01-22) added browse dialog for sounds
- (2004-01-22) fixed display of total number of checks during scan
- (2004-01-22) encrypt proxy settings
- (2004-01-23) preferred mirror setting
- (2004-01-23) Uninstall info tool
- (2004-01-23) Added filenames to LSP info
- (2004-01-23) Added lock for language files
- (2004-01-23) Added support for compressed threat info files
- (2004-01-23) Added Restricted Zones to Immunize
- (2004-01-23) updated mirror selection button to open on main button click
- (2004-01-24) window location save/load working again
- (2004-01-25) completed clsid manager for BHOs
- (2004-01-25) added descriptions to tools start page
- (2004-01-26) new lsp manager supporting snapshots

:: 1.3 beta 6
- (2004-01-27) new hosts file (in use by updated hosts file tool)
- (2004-01-29) Donation button removed if using IUServer
- (2004-02-06) Confirmation after successful bug report send added
- (2004-02-19) Scheduler now passes correct CLPs
- (2004-02-20) Multiple instances of a process will now be correctly terminated
- (2004-02-20) Fixed Settings showing on automated program start
- (2004-02-22) Integration of BrowserManager for spyware detection

:: 1.3 rc
- (2004-02-24) Fixed detection parameter
- (2004-02-24) Scheduler display if service not available
- (2004-03-01) Fixed update reminder
- (2004-03-01) Updated default configuration
- (2004-03-03) Info panels, new 24x24 icons
- (2004-03-04) Info panels, new 24x24 icons
- (2004-03-08) Fixed problem if threat info file does not exist
- (2004-03-08) Line breaks in threat info now loading correctly
- (2004-03-09) Added Immunize option to wizard
- (2004-03-09) Added last images
- (2004-03-09) Added Opera immunity
- (2004-03-09) Fixed data path problems on Samba PDC domain use
- (2004-03-13) Improved column resize
- (2004-03-16) Updated file removal to be able to remove loaded modules (IE plugins etc.)
- (2004-03-18) Fixed handling if OperaPlugins file does not exist
- (2004-03-18) Added link handling in System Startup info
- (2004-03-19) Revised info pages
- (2004-03-19) Made info panel splitter better visible
- (2004-03-19) Fixed page subtitles not localizable
- (2004-03-20) Fixed list headers not localizable
- (2004-03-23) Removed 'Unknown' entries in Recovery list after Scan+Fix
- (2004-03-23) Product checkboxes now correct on Recovery:SelectOld
- (2004-03-23) Fixed Uninstall Info popup menu link
- (2004-03-23) Fixed display of local updates
- (2004-03-29) Fixed progress bar during fix
- (2004-03-29) Fixed browser scan status text
- (2004-04-02) Added fix-all parameter