SpyBot – Search & Destroy

SpyBot - Search & Destroy is an anti-spyware scanner that detects and removes spyware, adware, tracking cookies, and other unwanted software. It has been around since 2000 and was one of the first dedicated anti-spyware tools. The free Home version handles manual scanning. The Professional version adds real time protection and an integrated antivirus. Windows only.

What it does

System Scan checks your drives for spyware, adware, trojans, and tracking cookies. After scanning, you get a list of detected threats and can fix them selectively. SpyBot automatically creates a backup before any changes, so you can roll back through the Recovery section if something breaks.

The Immunization feature is the other main tool. It blocks known malicious websites and tracking cookies in your browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) before they ever load. Think of it as a preventive blocklist rather than a reactive scan.

SpyBot also detects unauthorized changes to browser settings - like a program changing your homepage or default search engine without asking - and can revert those changes.

Who it is for

SpyBot is useful as a second opinion scanner alongside your main antivirus. The immunization feature is its strongest point - it blocks known bad sites across all your browsers in one click. For primary anti-malware, Malwarebytes is more modern and faster, but SpyBot's immunization has no direct equivalent elsewhere.