Confused

I have just downloaded and installed spyblaster 2.5.3 but have just read in the help pages that this program does not need to be running under W98SE to work.

If its not running, how does it work ?

I find it confusing to have a program that can block spyware but does'nt actually run.

Thanks

 

Hi kevinjenny,

This is from the "readme" of Spywareblaster:

"By setting a "kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the installation of any of them from a webpage.

Infomation on the "kill bit":

For every Active X control, there is a unique CLSID. That CLSID number identifies only that Active X control - no others.

In the registry, there is a section under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility
Under this section, you will find keys whose names are various Active X CLSIDs.

In each key is a DWORD value named "Compatibility Flags" - when set to a decimal equivalent of "1024", it prevents the Active X control with that CLSID from installing or even running (no Yes/No box, no worries).

SpywareBlaster creates a registry key corresponding to each spyware Active X control's CLSID, creates the DWORD value, and sets it to 1024 (decimal), thus providing the protection. New spyware Active X control CLSIDs will be added to the database as soon as they come out so you can also disable the possibility of those installing."

HTH,
Douglas

 

And, once set in the registry, those "kill bits" don't need to be "active" in any way - thus, the program doesn't have to "run" continuously - you just keep it updated (Check for Updates/Select All/Protect Against Checked Items).

Zero resource usage = not "running". It's a registry thing. HTH Pete

 

What happens if a particular ActiveX control is already on your machine before you use SB for the first time. Does SB tell you there already is a registry entry present, and that you should consider changing it? Does it just set the kill bit anyway, and if so, does that stop the ActiveX control that is already there from being able to run from that point on?

Joel

 

From the SpywareBlaster help file under Original FAQ:

1) What does SpywareBlaster do?

-Unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster doesn't scan for and clean spyware. Instead, SpywareBlaster provides protection against spyware ever installing and can also prevent spyware from running if it is already installed on your machine! SpywareBlaster can also protect against spyware/tracking cookies (this cookie protection function requires Internet Explorer 6 or above - the spyware protection mechanism even works on Windows machines without Internet Explorer).