8 replies to this topic

[Tortoise]

A friend says that the computer security person at her work told her not to download Spybot S&D because there is a version with some kind of malware on it. She also says that someone else she knows started having problems after downloading this software.

I haven't ever seen anything here or elsewhere about this. Is this just malicious rumor?

[Doctor J]

Not too long ago, a pale imitation of Spybot was a sponsored first result of a Google search for Spybot; its name is Spyhunter, & they even copied the look of the program & home page, rumor has it they even stole the database from Spybot.
Spyhunter is know to plant spyware, then detects it for free, but charges $29.99 to remove it, so...

As long as the program is Spybot Search&Destroy, by PepiMK software, you are OK.

[Tortoise]

Thank you, Dr. J. I really appreciate the explanation!

[QuasiMojo]

As long as the program is Spybot Search&Destroy, by PepiMK software, you are OK.

Then how come Spybot acts like pestware? I've uninstalled it and my RegCleaner utility shows it everytime after I boot up. I remove it, including the backup copy, and it still comes back, relentlessly.

[SpywareDestroyer]

There are lots of fake Spybots around.

[Tuxedo Jack]

Which regkeys does it leave, and which version were you running? 1.2 or 1.3?

[herbert1948]

I found Spyhunter through a Malware Program but still find it very usefull as it describes where in the registry the malware is situated. Follow the path after Run type in Regedit and when you see the entry indicated in Spyhunter - be very careful that you dont delete wrong ones !! - delete it and Bob's your uncle. Anybody used it like me - what is your experience. Dont spend $ 29.95 just do the manual delete. One bad thing it does not see the latest malware I cought dl.html but for that I started another Forum
Regards Herbert

[QuasiMojo]

Which regkeys does it leave, and which version were you running? 1.2 or 1.3?

I was running SpyBot Search & Destroy 1.3 before I uninstalled it. The Registry entry that keeps appearing with every bootup is:

"HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\PepiMK Software\Spybot SnD"

[Tuxedo Jack]

I wouldn't worry about it. Tons of programs leave regkeys behind to show that they've been installed.

As long as the data inside it isn't sensitive, I'd leave it be.