You've downloaded and installed Spybot -S&D as part of your Spyware prevention process. As part of that process, the How To for configuring Spybot includes a step that asks you to check a 'Search the web for new versions at each program start" box. We recommend this step to be sure that SpyBot is kept up-to-date each time it opens and scans.

The issue with this setting is "that millions of people are trying to download from the same SpyBot servers, which can't handle such a burden. In combination with the growing size of the detection file this is becoming a serious problem." See SpyBot FAQ #20.

As a result of this delay, Spybot may take from 3 - 10 minutes to load. You may also see !!! bad checksum ! error in the Updates window after Spybot loads. See image.

These steps will walk you through unchecking the 'Search the web for new versions at each program start" box. You can then MANUALLY check for updates on a secondary server.

Turn off the 'Search the web for new versions at each program start'

You should have already downloaded and installed Spybot-S&D. (See steps.)

1. Click Start, then All Programs, then Spybot - Search & Destroy and then Spybot - Search & Destroy.
   
2. Please wait while Spybot searches for updates. It may take 3 - 10 minutes for the process to time out.
3. Once Spybot opens, from the Mode menu, be sure that Advanced mode is checked.
   If Default mode is checked, switch it to Advanced mode. In the warning message, click Yes.
   
   NOTE: On the left side, you should see 4 tabs: Spybot-S&D, Settings, Tools, Info & License.
   
   
4. Click the Settings tab. Click the Settings button (3rd button down).
5. On the right side, scroll down to the "Web Update" section.
6. Un-check both the "Search the web for new versions at each program start" and "Download updated include files if available online" choices.
   
   
   
   
7. Click the Spybot-S&D tab.

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Search for Updates Manually

1. On the left side, click "Search & Destroy" and then click "Search for Updates" button on the right..
   
   NOTE: This first search process may still look to the See-Cure (Europe) site.
   
   
2. When the Update screen appears, just to the right of the Search for Updates button is a drop-down list of potential servers. See image. Note: This list may change over time.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on the server drop-down list and choose any other site. Ex: MalwareBytes (USA).
4. Click the Search for Updates button.
5. If updates are found, place a check in all the boxes. Then click the Download Updates button.
6. If the downloads are successful, you will see a green check beside the update name.
   
   TIP #2: If the process fails again, close Spybot. Re-open Spybot. Click Search for Updates. Select another server. If multiple items are found, place a check in only 1 box. Click the Download Updates button. If successful, select and download 1 item at time until all have the a green check beside the update name.
   
   TIP #3: Finally, if the above fails, restart the computer. Then look for the Spybot updates. You can also try a different time of the day.
   
   
7. Once you have successfully downloaded the updates, on the left side, click the Immunize button.
8. If additional bad products can be blocked, click the Immunize button at the top of the window. Has large green plus sign next to the word Immunize.
   
   
   
   
9. That's it. You have downloaded and applied the latest updates.
10. You may now perform a Check for problems or exit Spybot.

You should run Spybot on a regular basis. If you plan to scan manually, once every two to four weeks will be fine. You can also schedule this process to happen.

To see if the issue has been resolved, you may turn the the "Search the web for new versions at each program start" and "Download updated include files if available online" choices BACK ON. Then close and re-open Spybot.

This setting is preferred since it always searches for the latest updates whenever Spybot is opened.

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