Spybot charging for service?

[mjl1297]

I've been using Spybot for years and recommending it for just as long. The other day I suggested that a friend that was having malware and spyware issues download the program and run it in order to address some of the problems he was contending with on his computer. He did this and told me that Spybot returned a count of 17 problem files but that Spybot would only eliminate 15 of the 17 files free of charge and that he would have to pay $24.95 before it would eliminate the last two files.

Is this right? I'm convinced he downloaded a similar program from a look-alike website although he avers he went to the Spybot website. I've never encountered anything like this before with Spybot. Anyone have any ideas what is going on here?

[tashi]

Hello mjl1297,

Spybot-S&D is always free for personal use, by your description a rogue rip off program was downloaded by your friend. :(

[mjl1297]

Methinks you are correct!

This individual is not particularly computer savvy so that is entirely possible.