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| SECURITY |
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"TeaTimer" is the other mini-program that's included with Spybot. This program is very intelligent; what it does is monitor your system's registry for alterations that come from Internet Explorer and Windows program start-up list. So, if anything tries to change your Internet Explorer homepage, you will get an automatic notification - which prompts you to approve the action(s). Prompt example.
As mentioned before; if a program tries to add itself to your program start-up list you will be prompted to allow or disallow the action. This way you can stop spyware in its tracts. The last thing you want is for spyware to alter your regisrty entries and start with Windows.
Most programs make changes to your registryistery, this is perfectly normal, but they won't change your homepage without asking. For instance; MSN Messenger, after installed, will ask you if you'd like to change your homepage to MSN.com.
If you don't want to use TeaTimer, you can of course disable it. This can be done via the icon in your computer's "system tray". The icon in the which is in the system tray looks like a little "window" with a lock on it, (as noted in the screenshot above). In order to disable TeaTimer; 'right-click' on the icon to see the options available. One option is to start the main Spybot program you can also disable "Iimmunization" in Internet Explorer and to the point - you can shut down the "TeaTimer" monitor as mentioned before. Back to Spybot: Moving on, go back up to the "Mode" button and switch from "Advanced mode" to Default mode". After that is done click "Search & Destroy", (left hand side) and click on "Check for Problems" at the top of the program and let Spybot-S&D search for problems on your system. When it finishes, if you're infected you will see "Fix selected problems" next to where "Check for Problems" is. Make sure everything Spybot found is checked and click "Fix selected problems". Spybot-S&D will separate the spyware into categories. Some spyware has multiple files and registry entries - Spybot makes it easy to see what's on your system.
After Spybot is finished separating the spyware it will ask you if you'd like to remove it from your system, click Yes. As mentioned before; some programs will no longer work if they need spyware installed to work. If deleting the spyware entries has an unwanted affect, you can you Windows XP/ME's "System Restore" feature to reverse Spybot's actions. *Spybot automatically creates a restore point before removing the entries.
You're now finished with Spybot-S&D. Spybot-S&D can find things programs like "Ad-aware" can miss, the screenshot below shows this.
As you can see, Spybot
works especially well when coupled with Ad-aware. Since Spybot
can miss spyware objects as well, so it is recommended that you
use Ad-aware and Spybot together.
Next: SpywareBlaster
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