Internet Explorer protection necessary?

Discussion in 'SpywareBlaster & Other Forum' started by Tronjer, Mar 29, 2015.

  1. Tronjer

    Tronjer Registered Member

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    Hi,
    I use Firefox as internet browser. I deactivated Internet Explorer in the Windows Control Panel.
    Could IE still be active in some way? Does it make sense for me to activate the Internet Explorer protection in Spyware Blaster 5.0 or will it slow down my system?
    My OS is Windows 7.
    Tronjer
     
  2. quietman

    quietman Registered Member

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    I'd take the word "deactivated" with a pinch of salt.
    IE will still be used by various processes e.g. Skype
    Windows Update probably uses it also.

    If in doubt , use a cleaner software ( like CCleaner ) in analyze mode and look at the cookies from IE,
    then delete them , and see how long it takes for them to return .

    So yes , it's still active , and you should act accordingly :)
     
  3. RJK3

    RJK3 Registered Member

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    As quietman says, IE still gets used by other processes.

    I prefer to leave the box ticked in Default Programs as "Enable Access to this program", but just use the inbuilt settings to harden it. Here are approaches you can take with no real effect on performance:

    1/ Manage Add-ons - disable/delete everything (unless it's for security);

    2/ Internet Options
    a) Security - Raise each zone to Highest setting & tick Enabled Protection Mode for each. Also check the custom level for any options that would seem to increase security, e.g. disable Font download. I can't recall which ones I had to manually set, I just checked each one-by-one;
    b) Privacy, set to high;
    c) Advanced - untick "Enable third party add-ons,"; tick *"Enable Enhanced Protected Mode" and *"Enable 64-bit processes for Enhanced Protected Mode" *for Windows 8.1

    3) Use EMET 5.2 with recommended settings for IE including ASR (Attack Surface Reduction), even if it's a bit superfluous with scripts disabled and third-party addons disabled already.

    4) Run IE in low integrity mode using SSRP (Simple Software-Restriction Policy), which reproduces the Protected Mode function.


    The above will prevent exploits served through malicious vbscript, javascript, activeX or fonts. The use of Protected Mode puts IE into low integrity mode, removing write access to system or user folders and most of the registry. The settings will also break webpages which rely on scripting, so you might have to adjust the Zones settings if it turns out you need IE to work properly with certain programs.
     
  4. ghodgson

    ghodgson Registered Member

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    He uses Firefox not IE. The question relates to Spywareblaster.
    Spywareblaster has no running processes, it works by adding killbits to the registry preventing certain items being downloaded. It will not slow down your system if you leave IE protection on in Spywareblaster.

    https://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html#Browsers
     
  5. 1PW

    1PW Registered Member

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  6. RJK3

    RJK3 Registered Member

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    While I appreciate that while you perhaps did read some of what the original poster wrote, you may have missed the relevant section which quietman and I focused our comments:

    It's the section in bold that interested us. Deactivating IE in Default Programs merely hides it from the user.

    As for Spyware Blaster 5.0, it's a half-job compared to hardening IE from within its own options. Spywareblaster merely uses a blacklist to prevent malicious scripts and activex only from known bad sites, whereas the steps listed above will block all malicious fonts, vbscript, javascript, and activex and will run IE with limited priveleges.

    Overall the risk of leaving IE vulnerable in this situation is tiny, but there's no compelling reason not to harden it effectively - especially since it's not difficult to achieve.
     
  7. ghodgson

    ghodgson Registered Member

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    I understand what you are saying. I am aware IE cannot be fully de activated.
    I did not miss the relevant section you highlighted but answered the OP's original question, that is - SWB will not slow his system down.
     
  8. RJK3

    RJK3 Registered Member

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    Saying "He uses Firefox not IE. The question relates to Spywareblaster." sounds like an admonishment. If it wasn't, then it was entirely unnecessary to say in the first place.

    He also asked if it makes sense to active the IE protections in Spywareblaster, which you didn't answer.

    ~ Removed Reported OT Remarks ~
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2015
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