Startup monitoring software

[SirDracula]

Could you please recommend some good and light weight startup monitoring software like Spybot's TeaTimer? TeaTimer has issues and doesn't monitor the Startup and Startup Common folders, I'm looking for a replacement. Here are my requirements:

- standalone light weight or part of a light weight suite that doesn't run all the time (like Spybot and TeaTimer: TeaTimer is resident but Spybot is not)

- can monitor all startup registry entries and also the Startup and Startup Common folders

- prompts the user to allow/deny changes for additions to startup

- does the monitoring and prompting in real-time, not every N minutes

- does not have silly built-in allow lists that cannot be customized for some "safe" software like Windows Defender has for all sorts of Adobe junk

- has black and white lists so that the user is not bothered with the same question for recurring items such as qttask, javaupdatesched, etc. that I don't ever want in my startup

- it's free or relatively cheap if it is an excellent product worth buying (but definitely not on an annual subscription basis)

thanks for any pointers in the right direction

[jtcst]

Winpatrol Free (no real-time detection) and Winpatrol Plus

[innerpeace]

Hi, although it doesn't meet some of your requirements, Winpatrol (http://www.winpatrol.com/) is a neat little program. It has been a while since I have used it, but the free version 'polls' the system every so often for certain changes and the Plus version is supposed to work in real time. It also has many other security features (http://www.winpatrol.com/features.html). It's worth a look and it's light and very easy to use. The Plus version has a one time license fee.

innerpeace

edit: I see jtcst was thinking the same thing I was :).

[Meriadoc]

'light weight startup monitoring software' (http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml)

[LoneWolf]

Another one for WinPatrol here. :thumb:
Free=poller, Paid=real time.
A very useful program that will always be in my setup. ;D

[Perman]

Hi, folk:

Winpatroil plus.
The only old rag since day one I have not given a boot. Light and reliable.

[Espresso]

Most popular and unpopular HIPS software monitor the startup entries. Dynamic Security Agent is free and serves as a basic in/out firewall too.

http://www.privacyware.com/dynamic_security_agent.html

[zhanwest]

Tiny Watcher
But it has no blacklist or whitelist

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "'light weight startup monitoring software' (http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml)" }-

This does not seem to have a blacklist/whitelist, right?

[Long View]

http://www.superwin.com/speedstartup.htm

[cruelsister]

WinPatrol Plus is without a doubt a keeper. A single fee gives you years of updates, and the Startup monitor (real time) works very well. You can also play with the services in a different module.

Essential software and light (~3500K, like 0% CPU).

[SirDracula]

Thanks all, looks like I need to look at WinPatrol Plus.

[Meriadoc]

-{ Quote: "This does not seem to have a blacklist/whitelist, right?" }-
True but I thought it worth a mention as it is extremely light weight. Perhaps you'd be better off with something like winpatrol, a program which is constantly being developed with more features and as Mike Lin's programs have been around awhile.

[Fuzzfas]

I don't know if it covers all of your demands,but this is still free,light and on demand (it is not a poller).

Ashampoo® StartUp Tuner 2
http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0117__.htm

[sukarof]

I´ve been using Startup monitor (http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml) for years along with Startip control panel (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml). It reacts everytime something is trying to put in a entry in the different startup locations in registry or startup folder. Works in Vista too.

[SirDracula]

I had high hopes for WinPatrol Plus, but unfortunately it doesn't remember the allow/deny decisions when it comes to startup items. The most annoying one (to me) is QuickTime's qttask.exe that gets added to Startup every time the QT player is started ...

[LoneWolf]

I have quicktime disabled in the startup programs.
Not sure if this is what you want to do, but don't sell Winpatrol short, it is a very useful program.

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "I have quicktime disabled in the startup programs.
Not sure if this is what you want to do, but don't sell Winpatrol short, it is a very useful program." }-

I don't want it there at all and if it tried to add itself it should be automatically blocked, like permanent firewall rules (or what Spybot's TeaTimer does).

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "I don't know if it covers all of your demands,but this is still free,light and on demand (it is not a poller).

Ashampoo® StartUp Tuner 2
http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0117__.htm" }-


How is this a startup monitor? I installed it in a VirtualBox and it doesn't monitor anything, it just lets you see what's in startup, remove entries, etc. And it does a very poor job at that too, if something gets added to startup while it's running there's no way to refresh the list without quiting the app and restarting it.

Maybe I missed something, but it seems to be a very poor piece of software.

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "I have quicktime disabled in the startup programs.
Not sure if this is what you want to do, but don't sell Winpatrol short, it is a very useful program." }-

After reading the WinPatrol help on the web site, it seems that "disabled" does what I want, I have to install it again and give it another try ...

http://www.winpatrol.com/startup.html

-{ Quote: "
"Disable"
When you disable a program in WinPatrol it will automatically be removed. It will also be removed whenever it is detected in the future.

This feature can be handy because some programs have a bad habit of returning after they have been removed from the Startup Programs list. For example, we discovered many programs like QuickTime, RealPlayer, and MSN Messenger who think they're so important they put themselves in the Startup Programs list every time they run.
" }-

[19monty64]

It seems sukarof's suggestion may fit your needs. Let us know how it works out...

[EASTER]

Tiny Watcher (http://www.donationcoders.com/kubicle/watcher/) is a dependable start-up monitor that covers registry AND files creation/deletion. Allows to disable/remove suspect (forced intrusions) files and registry entries.

Dunno if this is in line with what you're after but it's a worthy compliment to any security setup. Scans quickly at startup and displays accurate results.

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "Tiny Watcher (http://www.donationcoders.com/kubicle/watcher/) is a dependable start-up monitor that covers registry AND files creation/deletion. Allows to disable/remove suspect (forced intrusions) files and registry entries.

Dunno if this is in line with what you're after but it's a worthy compliment to any security setup. Scans quickly at startup and displays accurate results." }-

This doesn't seem to have any real-time monitoring. Only if people read the first post in this thread ...

[19monty64]

Did you try... -{ Quote: "I´ve been using Startup monitor (http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml) for years along with Startip control panel (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml). It reacts everytime something is trying to put in a entry in the different startup locations in registry or startup folder. Works in Vista too." }-

[SirDracula]

-{ Quote: "Did you try..." }-

Yes, I tried it. Too bad it doesn't have an option to remember a decision ... It's annoying to be prompted all the time when QuickTime player starts up.

[19monty64]

-{ Quote: "Yes, I tried it. Too bad it doesn't have an option to remember a decision ... It's annoying to be prompted all the time when QuickTime player starts up." }-
Even with the Start-up Control Panel??? That's disappointing...I'll stick with my HIPS.

[EASTER]

Just use a good HIPS if you're wanting notification of changes etc. blacklists/whitelists.

EQSecure 3.41 does nearly everything in that manner and then some needed for my units.

HIPS "IS" also a start-up monitoring software btw.

[sukarof]

-{ Quote: "Yes, I tried it. Too bad it doesn't have an option to remember a decision ... It's annoying to be prompted all the time when QuickTime player starts up." }-

Hmm..that is strange that it doesnt work for you. I mean that is the whole point of Startup Control panel - to manage all the startup entries. you can disable and/or delete the entries if you allowed/disalowed something by mistake. No problems here to prevent anything from running, including anything that has to do with Quicktime.

[19monty64]

-{ Quote: "The most annoying one (to me) is QuickTime's qttask.exe that gets added to Startup every time the QT player is started ..." }-
I haven't used QT in a while, but this is rather odd behaviour!

[aigle]

Better to use any good HIPS where u can turn off other features if needed!