Spybot Review: Is It a Strong Antivirus Option in 2024?

#1 Spybot Review in 2024

Spybot, a name that's been around in the antispyware world since 2000, has always been on my radar. With its reputation for tackling annoying spyware, I decided it was high time to put it to the test and see how it holds up in today's online environment.

In this Spybot review, I'll take you through Spybot's features, performance, and overall effectiveness. You might be surprised by what I discovered during my extensive testing process.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How Spybot performs against modern spyware threats
• The ins and outs of its user interface (spoiler: it's not the prettiest)
• How well it protects your online privacy
• Whether it's worth your money compared to other solutions
• If it will slow down your computer

So, let's examine and see what Spybot has to offer in 2024!

In a Hurry? Here's a Quick Summary

If you're short on time, here's a quick overview of my findings for this Spybot review:

What You'll Like:

• Strong spyware detection capabilities
• Immunization feature for proactive protection
• Anti-Beacon tool for enhanced privacy
• Variety of scanning options
• Secure file shredder included

What You May Not Like:

• Outdated and confusing user interface
• Slow initial full system scan
• Limited web protection compared to some competitors
• Complicated installation process
• Lack of modern features like a password manager or VPN

What Makes This Spybot Review Different?

Many Spybot reviews out there seem to be based on outdated information or don't go far enough into the software's capabilities. I wanted to change that by providing a hands-on, detailed analysis of Spybot in its current state.

For this Spybot review, I spent over two weeks testing Spybot on my Dell XPS laptop running Windows 11. I put the software through rigorous testing, running multiple scans, testing its various features, and even purposely exposing my system to potential threats to see how it would react.

I've captured numerous screenshots during my testing process, carefully selecting the most relevant ones to include in this review. This way, you'll get a real sense of what it's like to use Spybot on a day-to-day basis.

My goal is to provide you with an honest, impartial evaluation of Spybot's strengths and weaknesses, so you can make an informed decision about whether it's the right choice for your needs.

Buying Spybot

When I decided to purchase Spybot, I headed to their official website to compare the available options. They offer three main products for personal use: Spybot Free, Home, and Professional. I opted for the Professional version to test all the features Spybot has to offer.

The buying process was simple. After clicking the "Purchase" button, a small popup window appeared, allowing me to choose my payment method (credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer) and review my cart contents. I went with the credit card option and entered my details on a secure page processed by Verifone (formerly 2Checkout).

Once the payment went through, I received two important emails:

1. A license key and a download link for the Spybot installer (valid for two weeks with a maximum of three downloads)
2. An invoice for my purchase

It's worth noting that the Professional version includes additional features compared to the Home version, such as system registry repair and a secure file shredder. If you're looking for a more comprehensive solution, the Professional version might be worth the extra cost.

Installation

Installing Spybot was a relatively simple process, but it did offer more options than I expected. Here's a rundown of the installation steps:

1. I downloaded the installer using the link provided in the email.
2. Upon launching the installer, I was presented with several choices:

• Language selection (7 options available)
• Installation and usage mode (less control or more control)
• Installation destination (requiring 180MB of space)
• Spybot edition (Spybot + Antivirus or just Spybot)
• Usage preference (primary or secondary protection)
• Additional tasks (scheduling regular updates, integrating into Explorer context menu)

Spybot offers two installation options to customize your experience

After making my selections, the installation itself took less than a minute. However, a software update started immediately after, which lasted about 15 minutes. I was then prompted to install the live protection feature, which required a system restart to complete the setup.

Once my computer rebooted, I activated the product using the license key provided in the email. The whole process, including the update and restart, took around 20-25 minutes. While not the quickest installation I've experienced, it wasn't overly complicated either.

Interface

Spybot's user interface is, to put it mildly, not its strong suit. It feels outdated and can be confusing for new users. There are two main views: a basic view and a more detailed view.

The basic view displays three main elements:

1. Scan (showing the last system scan and a scan button)
2. Immunize module
3. Update button

You'll also see the Spybot logo in the top left corner and three status indicators for live protection, internet protection, and software updates.

The basic view of Spybot's interface

To access the more advanced interface, you need to click the "Show details" button in the bottom right corner. This reveals a more comprehensive set of tools categorized into basic, advanced, and professional sections. At the bottom, you'll find additional information like immunization statistics and quarantine info.

The advanced view offers more options but can be overwhelming

While the interface is resizable, it doesn't offer any alternative themes or color schemes. Frankly, the UI feels stuck in the early 2000s, which might be a turn-off for users accustomed to more modern, sleek interfaces.

During my Spybot review testing, I often found myself confused about what certain features did or where to find specific settings. The lack of clear explanations and tooltips didn't help matters. However, if you prefer a simpler approach, you can stick to the basic view, which focuses on essential functions without overwhelming you with technical details.

Major Features

Moving ahead with this Spybot review, we’ll break down the features of Spybot. We’ll examine why it’s a valuable option for safeguarding your digital life.

System Scan

The system scan is Spybot's primary tool for detecting active malware and tracking cookies in browsers. You can access it from the main interface, where you'll find options to start, pause, or stop a scan, fix selected threats, save scan logs, and view previous results.

The system scan interface offers various options for managing your scans

I ran a full system scan on my SSD, which took 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete. This is longer than some competitors, but it's important to note that thoroughness often comes at the cost of speed. The scan detected 37 threats, including Win32 downloaders, suspicious executables, and potentially unwanted Internet Explorer items.

Spybot detected various threats during the system scan

Each detected threat is assigned a threat level, visually displayed to the right of the results list. I appreciated the ability to fix all selected issues with a single click, which streamlined the cleanup process.

For scanning specific files or folders, Spybot offers a File Scan option. You can access this from the list of associated tasks on the left side of the main window, the Start Center, or by right-clicking any file in Windows Explorer.

Immunization (Web Protection)

One of Spybot's standout features is its Immunization tool, which aims to proactively prevent malware attacks (including spyware, trojans, and adware) by blocking access to known malicious websites. It uses a blacklist approach and works with supported browsers.

The Immunization feature helps protect your browsers from known threats

To test Spybot's web protection capabilities, I visited several test websites designed to simulate malicious content. Here's how it performed:

• Malicious website test: Failed to block
• WICAR: Blocked 8 out of 13 threats
• AMTSO: Passed 13 out of 15 tests
• EICAR: Blocked 2 out of 4 threats

While Spybot's web protection showed some effectiveness, it's clear that there's room for improvement. Robust antivirus options like McAfee and Kaspersky performed a little better. The failure to block the malicious website test was particularly concerning, and the mixed results on other test sites suggest that Spybot's web protection might not be as robust as some of its competitors.

Quarantine

The Quarantine feature in Spybot acts as a secure storage area for items removed during scans. This allows you to review and manage potentially harmful files without the risk of them affecting your system.

In the Quarantine window, you can see a list of detected threats, their detection dates, and sources. You have the option to permanently delete these items or restore them if you believe they were falsely identified as threats.

I found this feature particularly useful when dealing with potential false positives. It provided a safety net, allowing me to double-check items before permanently removing them from my system.

Statistics

The Statistics window in Spybot offers a detailed overview of various scan and protection activities. It displays information about system scans, file scans, rootkit scans, immunizations, Spybot proxy usage, quarantine actions, and updates.

This feature gives you a bird's-eye view of Spybot's activities on your system. While I appreciated the level of detail provided, I felt that the presentation could be more user-friendly, perhaps with visual graphs or charts to make the data easier to interpret at a glance.

Advanced Tools

Spybot includes several advanced tools that cater to more technically inclined users. Here's a rundown of these features:

Report Creator

This tool generates comprehensive log files that can be useful when seeking assistance from Spybot's support team. While I didn't need to use this during my testing for this Spybot review, it's a valuable feature for troubleshooting complex issues.

Startup Tools

Startup Tools allow you to manage programs that run at system startup

The Startup Tools module lets you control which programs automatically run when your computer starts up. It includes updated versions of tools from older Spybot versions and some standalone utilities like RunAlyzer.

I found this feature particularly useful for optimizing my system's boot time by disabling unnecessary startup programs. However, it's worth noting that this tool requires some technical knowledge to use effectively.

Update

While the Free Edition of Spybot requires manual updates, the Home and Professional editions automate this process. Spybot creates a Windows scheduler task to keep your software up to date.

During my Spybot review testing, I noticed that updates were frequent and relatively quick, ensuring that the software stayed current with the latest threat definitions.

System Repair

The System Repair tool helps fix corrupt registry entries

The System Repair module is a registry repair tool designed to fix or delete corrupt registry entries. It's important to note that this tool is not meant to replace automated "registry cleaners" and requires some technical expertise to use safely.

I approached this feature cautiously, as making changes to the registry can potentially cause system instability if not done correctly. While it can be a powerful tool in the right hands, I'd recommend most users stick to the more automated features unless they're confident in their technical abilities.

Secure Shredder

The Secure Shredder permanently erases sensitive files

The Secure Shredder is a tool for permanently erasing files and malware. It's designed to make files unrecoverable, which can be useful for sensitive data. The tool asks for confirmation before proceeding with the shredding process, which I appreciated as an extra safeguard against accidental deletions.

While testing this feature, I found it to be effective at securely deleting files. However, it's worth noting that Spybot themselves suggest that more modern alternatives like the open-source tool Eraser might be preferable for some users.

Rootkit Scan

The Rootkit Scan detects deeply hidden malware

The Rootkit Scan is designed to detect malware that uses rootkit technology to hide at the system level. It checks the file system, registry, and process-related lists for signs of rootkit activity.

When I ran the Rootkit Scan, it performed a quick initial check of critical locations, which took only a second on my relatively modern machine. For a more thorough examination, there's an option to perform a Deep Scan, which takes considerably longer but provides a more comprehensive check of your system.

Settings

Spybot offers a wide range of customization options through its Settings menu. Here are some of the key settings you can adjust:

The Settings menu allows for extensive customization of Spybot

• Language: Choose from 7 different languages
• Scope: Decide what Spybot should scan
• Categories: Enable or disable specific scanning categories
• Live Protection: Configure real-time monitoring options
• System Integration: Control how Spybot integrates with Windows Explorer and AutoPlay
• System Services: Manage Spybot's various services
• Browsers: Exclude specific browsers from scanning
• Ignore Lists: Create lists of items to exclude from scan results
• Schedule: Set up automated tasks
• Dialogs: Control which assistance dialogs are shown
• Portable Browsers: Add portable browser installations for scanning
• Internet Protection: Configure Spybot's web proxy settings
• Download Directories: Add specific directories for extra scrutiny during scans

I found the level of customization impressive, allowing me to customize Spybot's behavior to my specific needs. However, the sheer number of options might be daunting for less experienced users. I'd recommend most users stick with the default settings unless they have a specific reason to change them.

Professional Tools

Spybot Professional includes a set of advanced tools designed for users with more technical expertise:

OpenSBI Editor

This tool allows you to edit Spybot's detection database directly. While it's a powerful feature for advanced users, I didn't find myself needing to use it during my Spybot review testing period.

Script Editor

The script editor lets you create complex malware detection patterns using Spybot's OpenSBI syntax and the Pascal language. Again, this is a feature that's likely to be used only by the most technically inclined users or security professionals.

Repair Environment

The Repair Environment opens a new Windows Desktop where Spybot runs in seclusion, preventing other software from meddling with it. This can be particularly useful when dealing with persistent malware that might be interfering with normal Spybot operation.

Spybot Anti-Beacon

One of Spybot's notable features is Anti-Beacon, a tool designed to enhance privacy by blocking various telemetry and data collection features in Windows operating systems.

Spybot Anti-Beacon helps protect your privacy by blocking Windows telemetry

Anti-Beacon addresses privacy concerns related to Microsoft's data collection practices. The tool even extends its protection to popular browsers and some pre-installed manufacturer software in its Plus version.

You can customize which tracking options to block in Anti-Beacon

During my testing, I found Anti-Beacon to be a valuable addition to Spybot's feature set. It offered a level of control over Windows privacy settings that I haven't seen in many other security suites. However, it's important to note that blocking certain features may impact Windows functionality or cause compatibility issues with some software.

System Performance Impact

To evaluate Spybot's impact on system performance, I ran several tests on my Dell XPS laptop with an Intel i7-1065G7 CPU and 16 GB of RAM, running Windows 11.

During a full system scan, I observed that Spybot consumed about 60% of CPU power and 800MB of RAM. This is significantly higher than the average CPU usage of 25% and RAM consumption of 300 MB that I've seen with other antivirus solutions.

The high resource usage during scans was noticeable, causing my laptop to run a bit slower and the fan to spin up. However, when not actively scanning, Spybot's impact on system performance was minimal.

Spybot Review: Conclusion

After extensively testing Spybot, here are my final thoughts for this Spybot review:

1. Spybot is a thorough anti-spyware solution with some antivirus capabilities. Its strength lies in its spyware detection and removal, making it a solid choice if this is your primary concern.
2. The user interface is outdated and not very user-friendly. I often found myself confused about certain features, and the lack of clear explanations didn't help. If you prefer modern, intuitive interfaces, you might find Spybot frustrating to use.
3. Spybot's web protection / immunization feature performed below average in my tests. While it did block some threats, it failed to catch others that I would expect a modern security solution to detect.
4. The Anti-Beacon tool is a standout feature, offering strong privacy protection against Windows telemetry and data collection. If privacy is a major concern for you, this tool alone might make Spybot worth considering.
5. The system impact during full scans is higher than I'd like to see, which could be an issue for users with less powerful hardware.

In summary, Spybot is a mixed bag. It excels in spyware detection and privacy protection but falls short in areas like user interface design and web protection. If you're primarily concerned about spyware and Windows privacy, and you don't mind the dated interface, Spybot could be a good choice. However, if you're looking for a more well-rounded, user-friendly security solution, you might want to explore other options.

For alternative antivirus protection, Norton, Bitdefender, and TotalAV stand out. Don’t forget to check our top antivirus software recommendations for 2024.

Octav Fedor (Cybersecurity Editor)

Octav is a cybersecurity researcher and writer at AntivirusGuide. When he’s not publishing his honest opinions about security software online, he likes to learn about programming, watch astronomy documentaries, and participate in general knowledge competitions.