Benefits

• Spybot Search and Destroy searches for tracking cookies, spyware and other malware that can harm a computer while allowing users to quarantine or delete these malicious files. It also prevents a computer from downloading malware, reducing how spyware can infiltrate the computer.
  
  

Features

• Aside from its scanning and deletion feature, Spybot Search and Destroy contains three types of protection, called "Immunize," "Resident SDHelper" and "Resident TeaTimer." "Immunize" prevents tracking cookies from entering a computer, whereas "Resident TeaTimer" prevents other types of malware from self-installing on your computer, including malware that can change computer registry keys. "Resident SDHelper" provides additional spyware protection in Internet Explorer.
  
  

No Cost

• Spybot Search and Destroy is currently free to download from Spybot's official website. Users are encouraged to donate money to Spybot so they can continue developing spyware protection software, although it isn't necessary in order to download the software.
  
  

Compatability

• As of July 2010, Spybot Search and Destroy is only compatible with Windows 2000, XP and Vista. It is not currently available for any Apple or Linux platforms.
  
  

Issues

• According to Safer-Networking.org, other spyware or anti-virus programs detect some of Spybot's files as threats. Spybot recommends preventing these programs from deleting these Spybot files. Spybot also says it may cause conflicts with other anti-virus programs, but generally shouldn't cause any compatibility issues.