IE-SPYAD2

Hi All:

IE-SPYAD comes now in two different versions: IE-SPYAD (original) and IE-SPYAD2. IE-SPYAD2 is designed to address two problems that users might encounter: 1) some users might want to install IE-SPYAD on all user accounts on a PC simultaneously; 2) some users (esp. Windows XP users) have reported that the IE-SPYAD block list does not show up in the Restricted sites list of Internet Explorer.

Most users should use the original version (which is downloaded in IE-SPYAD.ZIP and IE-SPYAD.EXE). IE-SPYAD2 (which is downloaded in IE-SPYAD2.ZIP and IE-SPYAD2.EXE) should be used only if there is a compelling need to do so.

IE-SPYAD2 can be downloaded from the same web page as the original IE-SPYAD:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm

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Differences
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Both versions of IE-SPYAD install the same block list -- the only difference is the Registry location where that block list is installed.

IE-SPYAD: Installs to...

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

IE-SPYAD2: Installs to...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

In other words, the original IE-SPYAD installs to the Registry location for the current user of the PC; IE-SPYAD2 installs to the global machine location, thus affecting all users and accounts on the PC.

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When to Use
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Most users should use the original version of IE-SPYAD. IE-SPYAD2 should be used only if:

1) The administrator of the machine wants to install the block list simultaneously on
all user accounts.

2) The original IE-SPYAD block list is not appearing as expected in the Restricted sites
list for Internet Explorer.

Let me repeat that there is no difference in the block list used in IE-SPYAD2 -- the only difference is the Registry location in which the block list is installed.

If you have any questions about IE-SPYAD2, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best,

Eric L. Howes

 

Hi All:

A quick followup about some quirky Internet Explorer behavior that you may see if you use IE-SPYAD2.

When you install IE-SPYAD2 you should be aware of two side effects of using system-wide settings as opposed to user-specific settings for the Restricted sites list.

First, if you've added sites to the Trusted sites zone, the new Restricted sites may not show up in the Restricted sites box (Tools >> Options >> Security). This appears to be a quirk of Internet Explorer. What's happening is that Internet Explorer won't display sites loaded in the HKLM Registry hive (from IE-SPYAD2) if there are sites already loaded in the HKCU hive (from the Trusted sites zone).

Even though the Restricted sites may not display, however, Internet Explorer will still use the block list to restrict sites covered by the list.

Second, one other downside to using system-wide settings is that non-administrator users in Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP may not be able to see and edit the Restricted sites list in Internet Explorer.

Best,

Eric L. Howes