The unofficial successor of the classic XP-AntiSpy application for Windows, xd-antispy, has added support for plugins in an update.
I reviewed the initial version on Ghacks last month, and liked it. Plugin support heaves the app to new levels and that is reason enough to check it out again.
Plugins, as the name suggest, expand the functionality of the Windows tweaker. The latest version includes a good number already, including the hyped Super God Mode script, that creates over a 1000 Windows shortcuts to speed up administrative tasks.
Note that you can use the program without any plugins, if you want. The new version displays a settings window on start. If you switch to Plugins / Marketplace, you see the available plugins.
Tip: If this window does not appear, select Menu > Find more plugins online to launch it.
Windows security warning: Windows displays the “protected your PC” message when you run the application. The app is not malicious, but it is new, and Windows SmartScreen does not like things that are new; hence the warning. Ignore it.
The names of the plugins reveal their purposes only sometimes. It is clear what the plugin Uninstall OneDrive does, but not so clear what Chris Titus App or Plugin Butler do.
It would be useful if the program would display a short description on hover.
Using Plugins in xd-antispy
Using plugins is simple. Select “more tools” at the top of the xd-AntiSpy interface and then one of the installed plugins.
These are then loaded by the app and you may check items to modify the system accordingly.
Plugin Debloater, one of the few plugins installed by default, gives you options to remove certain apps from the operating system.
Just check and hit the “remove selected apps” button to get them removed.
Closing Words
Plugins extend the base functionality of xd-AntiSpy. That is a good thing, especially since they are entirely optional. Do not want them, ignore them. Everyone else gets extensions that can be added easily to get more options.
Have you tried xd-AntiSpy in the past? Or do you prefer to use a different tweaker or even manual changes? Feel free to leave a comment down below.