Question for techies. I received an email from a friend who recommended

[Dover]

something called "SPYBOT". She's not real computer savvy, and either am I....so I'm looking for another opinion. Any thoughts about the benefits of downloading this?

http://www.1usa.com/downloads/spybotsd/index.html

[lcordero]

1. I suggest to download it from here instead:

http://download.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=spybot&tg=dl-2001

[Dover]

2. Why that site?

Does that mean you think it's a good program to download?

[lcordero]

3. it's a good program, a lot of people here on DU recommend it

It's just that I have never seen the 1usa site before.

[Dover]

4. I was directed there from the www.spybot.info website

http://www.safer-networking.org/, the home of Spybot-S&D, the best according to PC World, PC Mag.

[Florida_Geek]

5. Spybot good

just cannot get rid of Grovelbot :evilgrin:

[tkmorris]

6. Do it

Seriously do it, and right now. There is no downside to this program whatsoever and it WILL eliminate a ton of nasty scripts. Things like cookies that report back to someone all the websites you visit. Ad and pop-up bots that continually spam you and slow down your machine. And so on.

I recommend to anyone that asks that they use Spybot, Adaware, and AVG for anti-virus protection if they don't have another. All are free and are wonderful tools to keep the script-kiddies at bay. In addition if you encounter a browser hijacker (if you see your search page changed or your home page for example) you need Hijack This but that program requires that you have some knowledge what you are doing so you know what files to delete.

[LTR]

7. Just to be safe...

Download from the official site or somewhere trustworthy like CNET or Tucows.

I don't know what 1usa is, but I just checked it out, and it seems like a legit host. Does not ask for money.

I have heard of some questionable sites that are trying to charge money for a spyware killer, and wind up ripping people off and making them pay for Spybot, which is freeware anyway.

I strongly recommend Spybot, as well as AdAware. I run both on my system, as on can detect things the other cannot, and vice-versa. Get both from the official sites or a trustworthy download site. You won't regret it.

[Dover]

8. Thanks for the advice. Should I just let it wipe out everything it finds?

I don't really know how to evaluate the list it gives you after a scan to know if I need a particular one or not. For instance, what about places I'm registered? Will I have to register again?

[LTR]

9. It won't remove TEMP files

It just gets rid of Spyware.

Both programs run a search for notorious spyware items, then gives you the option of removing them.

Unless you use Gator to fill in forms (and I hope you don't), you should be safe. Both programs save backups so you can revert if necessary (more than likely, you shouldn't have to).

Also, on the first run, don't be alarmed if there are over a hundred entries or so. It's amazing how much spyware is running on the average system.