HomeSearchMerchandiseAboutMichael HorowitzMy CNET Blog

Spybot Gripes Spybot Search and Destroy is an anti-Spyware program

I avoided Spybot for a long time because the first time I tried to use it in early 2003 or so, it failed. The scan of my computer would start, then hang and never complete. Version 1.3 was supposed to be a worthwhile upgrade, so I tried it again. 

Version 1.3 Gripes

June 17, 2004. Windows XP. 

When you first install Spybot there is a window "select additional tasks" which includes checkboxes for these items under "Permanent Protection"
  use Internet Explorer protection (SDHelper)
  use system settings protection (tea timer)

What the heck is this? There is no explanation and no Help button. Can I change these settings later when I might figure out what they mean? It does not say. My OOBE is off to a poor start. 

The first time wizard asks about immunizing your computer. Say what? Again, no Help. I suppose old-time users of Spybot know what this means, but a first time user can't. 

When all the initial settings are done, then Spybot offers a tutorial and a help file. Now? Too late. The Spyware might be less aggravating. 

Guess what? The tutorial explains about the Wizard you just had to deal with, but without any help at all. Reminds me of shoot first and ask questions later, let's configure the program then explain what the options mean later. 

The log file says
  6/17/2004 10:15:24 PM Downloaded update info file. (http://security.kolla.de/updates/spybotsd.ini)
but twice when I searched for updates it said there were none. Someone is mistaken. 
Update: A reader of this page wrote to say that in this case Spybot was downloading the update INFO file which tells it whether or not there are any updates. January 9, 2005. 

I clicked on Help -> About and then clicked on the output and got sent to http://patrick.kolla.de/spybotsd.html a web page that does not exist. The next day, this web page re-directed you to another one, but on June 17th, it just failed to load. 

How-to: SpyBot by Brendan I. Koerner in the Village Voice June 1, 2004. This mentions complaints that Spybot can freeze up when downloading updates. The suggested solution is to turn off your firewall. 

FYI: You can usually download Spybot Search and Destroy from www.safer-networking.org. On June 18, 2004, clicking this link returned nothing but this error: "Connection to database server not possible!".  Also try http://security.kolla.de and www.download.com and Tucows.