Run Spybot - Search & Destroy

Use these instructions to run Spybot for the first time. If you have used Spybot before and wish to run a routine scan, skip to Section II.

Section I: Running Spybot for the first time

  1. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Create registry backup

    Spybot - Create registry backup

  2. Click Create registry backup.
  3. Once this process has finished, click Next. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Search for updates

    Spybot - Search for updates

  4. Click Search for updates. Spybot will search for all available updates. At this point the Download all available updates button will become active.
  5. Click Download all available updates.
  6. Once this process has finished, click Next. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Immunize this system

    Spybot - Immunize this system

  7. Click Immunize this system.
  8. Once this process has finished, click Next.

Section II: Running a routine Spybot scan

  1. Launch Spybot - Search & Destroy from the Start menu if it is not already running. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Main screen

    Spybot - Main screen

  2. Make sure that you are connected to the Internet. Click Search for updates to ensure you are using the latest spyware definitions.
  3. If Spybot informs you that no updates are available, proceed to step 5. Otherwise, a window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Download updates

    Spybot - Download updates

  4. Check all the available updates as indicated and then click Download Updates.
  5. After installing all updates, click Search & Destroy in the left column. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Check for problems

    Spybot - Check for problems

  6. Click Check for problems. A scan will run. This may take several minutes. If any problems are found, they will be shown in a window similar to the following:
    Spybot - Fix selected problems

    Spybot - Fix selected problems

  7. Check the problems you wish to eliminate and click Fix selected problems. A window similar to the following will appear:
    Spybot - Confirmation

    Spybot - Confirmation

  8. Click Yes.
  9. Spybot - Search & Destroy offers real-time protection against many instances of new spyware with its Immunize feature. See Use Spybot's Immunize Function for instructions.
  10. For more information about some of Spybot's other features, please see the Spybot - Search & Destroy support documentation.

Last Updated: 02 July 2008

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