I have a question about SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY?

Question

there is an option to switch to ''advanced mode'' but when i went to it it said it can harm my computer if i didn't know what i was doing.

what does this mean?

i am no bill gates but i know my way around a computer fairly good, what will i need to know to use this mode, and is it any good and worth the hassle??

any info would be appreciated thanks.

Answer 1

This is how you should set up Spybot:

Launch the Spybot - Search & Destroy installer. At the select components windows, check in all the check boxes. At the select additional tasks, make sure that ONLY the Use Internet Explorer Protection box is checked in. DO NOT use tea timer! This program can go from great and amazing to horrible if you install tea timer, you have been warned. The program will then try to download updates (That's what the Ethernet cable was for). If for any reason you don't have one available, or it doesn't work, go back and uncheck Download updates.

Once the program is installed launch it. The first time it will give you a warning about how some programs require that you keep spyware in order to work. I would check in the box so that you're never warned about this again. If the program needs spyware, you don't want it anyways. You will be given a short little introduction to the program at this point. This is not important at all. Click next over and over, and then on the last slide click start using the program.

Now to configure it properly. Click on mode and choose advanced mode. Then click on settings, followed by the file sets tab. Make sure that they are all checked in. Then click on the settings tab... This one is a little complicated, so I'll just let you know which sections need to be changed. If a setting option is not listed, leave it the way it is:

    * Main settings (only the following should be checked in)

          o I do know about all that legal stuff

          o Save all settings

    * Automation (again, only these should be checked in)

          o Program start

                + Fix all problems on program start

                + Rerun checks after fixing problems

                + Immunize on program start if program has been updated

                + Don't ask for fixing confirmation

                + Wait a few seconds if something else than spies were found

          o System Start

                + Fix all problems on program start

                + Wait a few seconds if something else than spies were found

                + Close program if everything's O.K.

          o Web update

                + Search the web for new versions at each program start

                + Download updated include files if available online

                + Display available beta versions

                + Display updates for other languages

                + Display new and updates skins

                + Display PGP signature updates

    * Expert settings

          o Use shredder to remove usage tracks

          o Use shredder when purging recovery files

          o Show expert buttons in results list

          o Show expert buttons in recovery list

Now click on the Directories tab, right click on the empty space, and add your desktop. Then click on ignore products, click on the empty space of the all products windows, and choose Deselect all. Then finally click on the Ignore System Internals tab, and remove all the entries.

Then click on the tools tab on the bottom left hand corner, check in the "Hosts File" box, and then finally click on the Hosts File tab on the left. You will get a complete list of your host files. Select them all, and click on "Remove selected entries"

Finally click on the Spybot-S&D tab, then Immunize, and make sure everything is Immunized. Then on the update tab, search for updates, and when you get the list, right click on the empty space and select them all. On occasion some of the updates may restart spybot. If this happens, make sure that all the above settings are still in place.

Answer 2

If you needed to be able to use it its function would be a default feature and not hidden away in a menu called Advanced Mode...

Answer 3

The Advanced Mode is structured for setting restrictions and access capabilities for Windows Registry and volatile files that may have an affect on system operations.  There really is no need to run in Advanced Mode unless you knew exactly what you were doing.  You can find more by looking into Spybot's Help section.  

Check this out for more and example: http://antivirus.about.com/od/securityti...

Let me know if this helps!

Answer 4

It just means that you shouldnt delete or modify anything unless you know what it is and what it is for, And doing things in advanced mode is like, changing what things it picks up as virus worms ect