This guide explains how to update Spybot and Ad-aware which can be a tricky process. This is a step by step procedure to insure complete success. Spyware is the scourge of modern computing and should be removed once or twice a week.

Install and Update Spybot Search & Destroy

Spybot Search and Destroy is the single most powerful tool against the spread of unwanted spying programs commonly referred to as spyware. Wikipedia defines spyware as: a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user.
 
Spybot Search and Destroy (S & D) Installation

Go to Google and search for Spybot. Download Spybot Search & Destroy to your desktop. Double-click the installation program. After accepting the license agreement, keep clicking Next until you reach the Select Components window and uncheck all the boxes. Click Next until you reach the Select Additional Tasks window and make sure the top three boxes are selected. Click Install and then click Finish. Follow all of the steps in the Spybot S & D Wizard. Search for Updates and check all the boxes that come up in the window. Change the download site to Safer Networking #2 (Europe) then click the Download all available updates button on the left. You may find one of the other servers is faster but this one is consistently fast. This may or may not end the wizard. Click Immunize and make sure all known products are blocked. Then click Start using program and or Check for problems. This last step concludes the installation. Every time you use the program (once or twice a week) follow the updating procedure before you Check for problems.
 
Updating Spybot

Launch the Spybot S & D program. Click the Update button. Then click the Search for Updates button. Check all the boxes that appear in the lower panel. Change the download site to Safer Networking 2 (Europe) and then click Download Updates. Now click the Immunize button and follow the directions. You may be asked to Immunize by clicking the second Immunize button at the top of the window. Spybot S & D is now updated and you can proceed by clicking Search and Destroy. Next click Check for problems and follow the instructions. If and when Spybot S & D finds and displays the list of spyware, select Fix Selected Problems. You are finished and your system will run much faster. You put your mind at ease knowing that the threat and deployment of spyware is thwarted.

Ad-Aware SE Personal

To be doubly sure you do not have any spyware on your computer it is a good idea to use Ad-Aware in conjunction with Spybot. Launch Ad-Aware and then click Check for updates now. Click Connect and then OK and then Finish. Click Start and then Next to begin the detection process. If and when the program is finished and displays any New Critical Objects, click Next. Select each critical object on the list or right-click and Select All. Then click Next. Click OK to remove the objects. You are now finished with Ad-aware until next week (or tomorrow if you have teenagers using your computer). Good luck and happy spy-free computing!

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