versions of spybot-s&d won awards including the world class 2003 awards, the "pc magazine" editor's choice and "pc user" top buy #1. it has been recommended by zdnet, the "wall street journal", "the guardian", msnbc, cnn and other reviewers. although "pc magazine" initially rated it highly in 2003, their rating declined to "poor" in 2008 and "dismal" in 2012, improving to "fair" in 2014.