How to Use SpywareBlaster to protect computer from Malware – Guide
JavaCool’s SpywareBlaster is an easy-to-use anti-spyware utility that prevents spyware from infecting your computer in the first place.
SpywareBlaster is unique in how it works, disabling a list of known spyware associated with Active X controls and integrating with Internet Explorer and Firefox. This marks the item in the registry and the associated spy programs will not be able to run on the system.
How to use SpywareBlaster to protect your browser
Download and Install SpywareBlaster
SpywareBlaster is a program that can help you protect your computer from infection by malicious software. The program can be downloaded from the Javacool website at this link. When downloading, save the file to a location on your hard drive that can be found later. Once it’s downloaded, you’ll want to navigate to the folder where you saved it and double-click it to install the program. Follow the instructions and choose the default locations when installing the program. When the program has finished installing, it will place an icon on your desktop.
Figure 1: SpywareBlaster’s main features.
If you want to purchase the software, select Automatic update. If you do not plan to purchase the software, select Manual Upgrade. On the next screen, simply press the Finish button.
Protection / status screen for SpywareBlaster
- The Security Check: This is where you can review the security of your browser and make any necessary changes.
- The Protection Settings: Here you can choose which types of protection to use, as well as set up some basic security measures.
- The History & Cache: This section allows you to clear your history and cache, and protect yourself from tracking cookies.
- The Extensions: Here you can manage the extensions installed on your browser, and remove any that you no longer want or need. ..
SpywareBlaster is a program that allows users to restrict which ActiveX programs can be run, which cookies can be installed, and which websites are allowed to be visited. The green box in Figure 2 shows the main sections of SpywareBlaster. ..
The blue arrow in Figure 2 indicates that SpywareBlaster has detected that your Internet Explorer security settings are not strong enough and should be changed to make your browser more secure. We’ll go into more details about how to fix it even more in the tutorial.
Updating SpywareBlaster
Figure 3: SpywareBlaster Updates Screen To update SpywareBlaster, click on the “Updates” button on the main toolbar. This will take you to a screen like Figure 3. On this screen, you will be able to choose which updates to install. You should install all of the available updates, as they will improve SpywareBlaster’s protection. ..
If you click on the button labeled Check for Updates, SpywareBlaster will check for new updates available. If it finds new updates, it will download them and install them. Otherwise, it will say that SpywareBlaster is up so far and there is nothing to download.
Securing your browser
If you see an alert that Internet Explorer is unsafely configured, click the link labeled Click here to learn more and fix it. This will take you to a screen similar to Figure 4 below. If you don’t see this alert, you’ll be happy that your browser has the correct options set and you can skip to Step 4.
It is highly recommended that you choose to correct the settings it presents to you. This will provide you with a much safer browser, which will not be as susceptible to malicious ActiveX programs. To do this, click on the button designated by the green arrow labeled Set recommended values. After clicking on the button, you will be taken back to the Protection Status screen, except now you will no longer have the alert.
Internet Explorer Protection
You should now click on the link labeled Click here to enable protection… next to the Internet Explorer label on the status screen. This will take you to a screen similar to Figure 5 below. This screen will allow you to configure settings in Internet Explorer that prevent you from running known malicious ActiveX programs as well as cookies that are known to be spyware related.
Internet Explorer Protection
If you select the checkbox labeled ActiveX Protection, your browser will no longer be able to run ActiveX programs specified in the Block List, designated by the green arrow. This will automatically protect you from all known malicious ActiveX programs on the list. It is advisable to allow SpywareBlaster to protect you, so check this box.
If you want to remove protection for certain items, you can uncheck that particular item and click Remove protection for unscanned items button. If you place a checkmark in the checkbox labeled Cookie Protection, designated by the blue arrow in Figure 5, SpywareBlaster will prevent your browser from accepting certain cookies specified in the Block List designated by the green arrow in Figure 5. Placing a checkmark of check on In this box, SpywareBlaster will automatically block all attempts for these types of cookies to be placed on your browser. ..
It is advisable to allow SpywareBlaster to protect you by checking this box. If you want to remove protection for certain items, you can uncheck that particular item and click Remove protection for unscanned items button.
Internet Explorer Restricted Sites
Figure 6: Restricted sites screen. You can now click on the option labeled Enable to enable the restriction or disable it to disable it. ..
Restricted Sites
If you check the box labeled “Restricted sites protection,” SpywareBlaster will add all domains listed in the Block List, designated by the blue arrow in Figure 6, to the Restricted sites section of the Security tab in the Internet Explorer Internet Options section. It is advised that you let SpywareBlaster add these sites to its list of restricted sites by checking the box.
If you want to remove one or more websites from your restricted websites, you can uncheck that particular website and click Remove protection for unverified items button.
Mozilla / Firefox protection (only if you use this browser type)
If you use a Mozilla or Firefox browser, you should read this section; otherwise, you can ignore it. To protect Firefox, you must click on the option called in the left navigation menu. This will take you to the screen shown in Figure 7 below. This screen allows you to block cookies from websites in the SpywareBlaster database. ..
Mozilla / Firefox protection
To protect Firefox, you can check the box labeled Cookie Protection and add the Block List to Mozilla Firefox so that it will automatically block these cookies. It is recommended that you let SpywareBlaster protect you for maximum security.
Remove protection for unverified items button
Final note
This guide is designed to help you protect your computer from malware. If you have any questions about this article, please don’t hesitate to ask us. Additionally, please share this guide with your friends so that they can also be protected from malware.
