Feature Request: SpywareBlaster Auto Update

[Ries]

First: Thank you for this amazing piece of software.
Please keep it simple and small and freeware for all to enjoy...

Best thing of SpywareBlaster (IMO) is that it is effective without being active.
I mean that it you can close the program and it is still protecting you.
That way you can easily forget it, which is a good thing.

But you don't want to forget about the updates!
So here is my suggestion:

Add these options to SpywareBlaster:

-Run a (silent) check for updates every time Windows starts.
-Run a automatic check for updates every time SB starts.

(maybe this has been requested before but I searched the forum and didn't find it)

Regards,

Ries

[Ries again]

Any chances of this being implemented in the next version of SpywareBlaster?

Thanks...

[Guess Who...]

Bump......

[javacool]

I'm still not sure whether I will implement an optional auto-updater in the next version of SpywareBlaster, but adding an option to check if an update is available on the start of the program and then notify the user would be rather useful, IMHO.

There are lots of surprises in store for the next version of SpywareBlaster - I don't want to give them all away! ;)

Best regards,

-Javacool

[Zidane]

I think that optional auto updater when Windows start will be useful :)

[sig]

At this point SpywareBlaster is not a program that runs in the background in order to function. To have an autoupdater that checks for updates periodically a program has to be running, even if it's only the updater itself. I rather like that SB is not a running program and unless there are plans to make it so (like SpywareGuard) I personally would prefer not adding an integrated running component to autocheck for updates. But if an autoupdater could be an optional component, then that would satisfy those who do or don't want yet another running proggie on their machine.

At present I can see having an option to have SB autocheck for updates when you open the program itself, but that still requires manual intervention for the user since one would have to open the program to have it check for updates.

[javacool]

-{ Quote: " quoting: sig link=board=34;threadid=16770;start=0#msg105040 date=1070061752]
At this point SpywareBlaster is not a program that runs in the background in order to function. To have an autoupdater that checks for updates periodically a program has to be running, even if it's only the updater itself. I rather like that SB is not a running program and unless there are plans to make it so (like SpywareGuard) I personally would prefer not adding an integrated running component to autocheck for updates. But if an autoupdater could be an optional component, then that would satisfy those who do or don't want yet another running proggie on their machine.

At present I can see having an option to have SB autocheck for updates when you open the program itself, but that still requires manual intervention for the user since one would have to open the program to have it check for updates.
" }-

If an autoupdater component is added to SpywareBlaster, it would indeed be a completely separate small program, and would be entirely optional.

I realize one of the main benefits of SpywareBlaster is that it doesn't have to run in the background to provide protection. I've made sure to keep that in mind for the next release, so even with the many new exciting improvements, you still won't have to keep SpywareBlaster running to be protected. :)

Best regards,

-Javacool

[sig]

Ah, that's good to know Java. It's a great program that can do so much without "doing" anything at all, so to speak. ;)

[Ries]

Thanks for your replies.

I agree with sig that if these features would be implemented, they should be optional. In that way everyone can be happy. My point is that your program is very useful, also to people who are not very computer literate and it can avoid a lot of problems for them, but only if the program stays up to date. An auto update check would be particularly helpful to them I think.

Thanks again,

Ries

[krschr]

I agree, the auto-update function would also be useful for large-scale deployment. If a true auto-update wasn't enabled, a way to put a switch on the .exe (i.e. -autoupdate -autoprotect) to pull the updates and apply them. Using the Windows task scheduler, the fix could be scheduled to run every week or so.

Another improvement would be the capability to store the definition files somewhere other than the built-in update location, again in the context of a medium to large scale deployment, so a company could save the files to a local server then SB would download from there instead of putting additional load on the main server (or, depending on how the updates install, just have a weekly batch file that would copy the updates from a local server and load them, then run SB to apply the updates).

Its certainly very preferable to buying everyone a copy of WebRoot's SpySweeper or installing performance-degrading content management software at the inside edge of the firewall...

krschr

[Greevous]

I too would be very interested in this sort of feature too. I don't mind it either way. I can be a command line argument or some feature you set and forget.

Greevous

[Sailbad the Sinner]

The auto update in a very good idea. However, if you do add it, include a setting to have it wait for other auto update programs (like AV) to finish before it starts.

[korin]

I would also like to see this kind of functionality, although as krschr suggested, it doesnt require an additional app, just a couple command line switches would be sufficient to add a task to the task scheduler.

Thank you for an excellent program! As a PC Tech, I recommend spyware blaster and spyware guard to all of my customers.

korin

[krschr]

Well there we go...v3.0 with Auto-Update!