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YahooSo your computer USED to be fast and gradually over the last few years it started getting slower and slower, or seemingly overnight it just takes forever to respond after you click. This is usually most noticeable when you are closing a program or restarting/shutting down your computer. This is one of the sure signs that your computer has Adware/Spyware or the like, and needs to be cleaned then protected.
This is where tools like the one described here "SPYBOT SEARCH & DESTROY," come into play. To get your PUTER (Generic term for ALL computing devices) back into top condition, you really need to follow a 3 step process:
1 - Clean & clear all the "junk" off.
2 - Fix any damage caused by the "junk."
3 - Protect it from future infestation with "junk."
In this how to you'll learn one of the best ways to detect and clean and clear the junk from your puter using Spybot Search & Destroy (Spybot S&D).
DOWNLOAD Spybot
This is trickier than it sounds. Because Spybot S&D is so popular, a ton of opportunists have decided to setup websites like the following:
- spybot.search-destroy.com
- spybot-S&D-download.com
- searchdestroyspybots. com
and MANY others.
**WARNING**
AVOID THESE HORRIBLE SITES. THEY ARE TRYING TO GIVE YOU ADWARE/SPYWARE!
The best way to get the real Spybot S&D is to search for actual, reputable "download sites." Again, this can be tricky because the rogue antispyware sites all know you are looking for keywords like "download S&D," etc.
The absolute BEST way to ensure you are getting the actual S&D download site is to get it from someone you trust.
Download Spybot S&D here.
Did you know some Spyware is designed to keep you from getting to the real S&D site. If this happens to you, and you just can't get to the "safer-networking.org" website, try other anti spyware tools like CCleaner, Adaware, etc. covered in other how to articles.
INSTALL & RUN Spybot
This is a pretty straight forward process but you want to choose a few options at the end of the installation:
Begin the download from one of the links in STEP1
If using FireFox (which is highly recommended), double-click the completed downloads window.
These windows have suggested options to enable/disable. (Follow the RED circles/text on them.)
1ST Run
S&D will open a window guiding you step by step. I recommend using it the first few times, but remember it doesn't automatically advance to the next step. You have to click "next" to go to the next step.
Make sure to Backup the registry (Step 3 in the S&D window).
Check for Updates to S&D (Step 4 in the S&D window).
Then run the program "Check for Problems."
