The Shields Tab within Spy Sweeper highlights and gives you different options for all of the "Shields" that Spy Sweeper provides for you.
Internet Explorer Shields - You can set up Spy Sweeper to continuously monitor several Internet Explorer settings. These are settings that some spyware, adware, or unwanted programs change if you are not protected. When Spy Sweeper detects activity related to the IE Favorites, IE Hijack, or IE Home Page Shields, it displays an alert. If the shields are unavailable (dimmed), you may not have access to this function.
- IE Favorites Shield - This option actively protects your Internet Explorer favorites. Whenever a Web site tries to change your favorites, Spy Sweeper
lets you know and gives you the option to accept or reject the change. Some Web sites add entries to your favorites without letting you know. This option
ensures that you are aware whenever changes are made. Even if Spy Sweeper is not open when your favorites change, Spy Sweeper will detect the changes
and ask you about them when you next start Spy Sweeper.
- IE Security Shield - This option actively protects your Internet Explorer security settings (select Tools > Internet Options and click the Security tab).
Whenever a program tries to change these settings, Spy Sweeper lets you know and gives you the option to accept or reject the change. Some programs change these
options without letting you know. This option ensures that you are aware whenever changes are made.
- IE Tracking Cookies Shield - This option actively watches for tracking cookies as you visit Web sites and removes them. Tracking cookies are cookies that can
track your Web activities. These may include cookies that contain user names, passwords, or similar information that you enter on some Web sites. If you want to
hear a sound when Spy Sweeper removes a tracking cookie, select the Enable Sound option.
- IE Hijack Shield - This option actively protects various Internet Explorer functions, such as the search page, error pages, and other default pages that
Internet Explorer displays. Whenever a program tries to change these pages, Spy Sweeper lets you know and gives you the option to accept or reject the change.
Some programs change ("hijack") these pages without letting you know. This option ensures that you are aware whenever changes are made. Even if Spy Sweeper is
not open when these pages change, Spy Sweeper will detect the changes and ask you about them when you next start Spy Sweeper.
- IE Homepage Shield - This option actively protects the Web site you set as your home page in Internet Explorer. Some programs change the home page that you
set. The home page is the Web site that displays automatically when you start Internet Explorer or when you click the Home button. Enter the Web address of the
Web site you want in the text field in the format: http://www.removingspywareforfree.com and click Save.
- IE Search Page Shield - This option actively protects the Web site you set as your search page in Internet Explorer. Some programs change the search page that you set. The search page is the Web site that displays automatically when you click the Search button in Internet Explorer. Enter the Web address of the Web site you want in the text field in the format: http://www.google.com and click Save.
Windows System Shields - You can set up Spy Sweeper to continuously monitor several Windows system settings. These are settings that some spyware, adware, or unwanted programs change if you are not protected. If the shields are unavailable (dimmed), you may not have access to this function.
- Memory Shield - This option sweeps your computer's random access memory (RAM) frequently looking for spyware, adware, or unwanted programs. It only sweeps
memory when Spy Sweeper is open in the system tray in the lower-right corner of your screen (minimized).
- Spy Installation Shield - This option actively watches for programs that try to install themselves on your computer. Whenever a program tries to install itself,
Spy Sweeper lets you know and gives you the option to accept or reject the change.
- Active X Shield - This option actively watches for programs that install ActiveX technology on your computer. Whenever a program tries to install ActiveX
technology, Spy Sweeper lets you know and gives you the option to continue the installation or to stop it. ActiveX technology is a group of functions developed
by Microsoft that let programs share information. Many legitimate programs use ActiveX, but some spyware, adware, and other unwanted programs also use ActiveX
to install themselves.
- Alternate Data Stream (ADS) Execution Shield - (Applies only to Windows NT, 2000, and XP.) This option actively watches for programs that try to start from
an alternative data stream (ADS). ADS is a highly technical way to hide images, data, or code in a file and can be used to hide malicious code. The hidden
content is impossible to detect using regularly-available tools, such as Windows Explorer. Turning on this shield lets Spy Sweeper alert you if a program
tries to start from an ADS.
- Windows Messenger Service Shield - (Applies only to Windows NT, 2000, and XP.) This option turns off and actively watches the Microsoft Messenger Service.
This service is not an instant messaging program and does not affect your use of instant messaging. This service is often used for sending spam (unwanted e-mail)
and creating pop-up ads. Turning off the service stops these types of spam and pop-ups. If your computer is in your home, you can turn off this service without
any problem. If you work in a corporate environment, contact your system administrator to find out if your company uses the service to communicate with company
employees. If you are not sure, leave the service turned on until you find out.
- Spy Communication Shield - This option actively watches for communication from your computer to known Web sites that are related to spyware, adware, and other unwanted programs. Spy Sweeper includes a list of known sites with its definitions. If Spy Sweeper detects an attempt to communicate with a site on the list, it will display a pop-up alert in the system tray (lower-right corner of your monitor) telling you that access to the site was blocked.
Hosts File Shields - You can set up Spy Sweeper to continuously monitor two functions related to the Hosts file. The Hosts file is a Windows file that helps direct your computer to a Web site using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Your Web browser, for example Internet Explorer, uses the IP address to actually connect you to a Web site.
When you go to a Web site, like www.removingspywareforfree.com, your computer first looks in the Hosts file to see if it already knows where to go. If the domain (removingspywareforfree.com) is listed, your computer goes directly to the IP address listed in the Hosts file. If the domain is not in the Hosts file, your computer looks up the information from the Internet (a slightly slower process).
The Hosts file has two primary uses, one good and one bad:
- Good—You can block a lot of adware cookies and other monitoring by using the Hosts file to route certain domains, such as advertising sites, to a dead end.
- Bad—Some spyware, adware, or unwanted programs will route certain domains to false addresses, for example, by making a commonly used search site open
to a porn site. We call this hijacking.
Using Spy Sweeper to manage the Hosts file, you can block a lot of unwanted adware activity, while preventing your Internet browsing from being hijacked. When Spy Sweeper detects activity related to the Hosts File Shield, it displays an alert.
- Common Ad Sites Shield - This option adds known advertising sites to your Hosts file and sets the IP address for those sites to the IP address for
your computer. This blocks banner and other advertising from these sites. When you go to a Web site that has advertising from one of the blocked sites,
you may see a small graphic that indicates a broken link to a graphic (typically a red x in a box). This just shows where the blocked ad would display.
Spy Sweeper updates these sites when you update your definitions.
- Hosts File Shield - This option actively watches the Hosts file for any changes. Some programs will add or change the IP address for a Web site in the Hosts file. When you try to go to the added or changed Web site, you will really go to a different Web site, such as an advertising site. This shield ensures that programs do not change an IP address without you being aware of it.
Startup Programs Shield - You can set up Spy Sweeper to continuously monitor the list of programs that start every time you start Windows. Some spyware, adware, or unwanted programs add programs to this startup list if you are not protected. When Spy Sweeper detects activity related to the Startup Shield, it displays an alert.
- Startup Shield - This option actively watches your startup items for any changes. Some programs will add startup items, so that the program will always run on your computer. This shield ensures that programs do not add something to the startup items without you being aware of it.
Browser Add-ons Shield - You can set up Spy Sweeper to continuously monitor the list of browser add-ons installed. Some spyware, adware, or unwanted programs install browser add-ons if you are not protected. When Spy Sweeper detects activity related to browser add-ons, it displays an alert.
- Browser Help Object (BHO) Shield - This option actively watches your computer for the installation of Browser Helper Objects (BHOs). Whenever a BHO tries to install itself, Spy Sweeper lets you know and gives you the option to accept or reject the change. BHOs are add-on programs that work with your browser. Some spyware, adware, or other unwanted programs add BHOs without your knowledge. This shield ensures that programs do not add a BHO without you being aware of it.
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