The Windows Fix » adware

Run Applications on a Virtual Hard Drive with Sandboxie

T.J. Mininday — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:44:04 +0000

With any new application that’s installed on your computer, there’s always a worry that it’s going to possibly infect your system with something. Some worry more than others, but why should this be such a worrisome. It would be nice if you could isolate any application from the rest of your critical programs. You can run them in a complete virtual environment with VMWARE or Microsoft’s Virtual PC, but that can be time consuming and time is something a lot of us don’t have. There is another great alternative though.

Sandboxie essentially runs all applications in a isolated protected environment, away from the rest of your precious Windows programs. Secure Web Browsing, Enhanced Privacy and Secure E-Mailing are the app’s main protective measures. The program places any installed application that you specify, into a completely separate area of your hard disk. The below animation gives you a better idea of how exactly it works.

So if you want to try out some free applications, but worried about infecting your system, this program is perfect for you. Check it out…Sandboxie.

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Backup and Monitor the Windows Registry with SpyMe Tools

T.J. Mininday — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:44:42 +0000

Any time a new installation is needed on any version of Windows, people tend to hold their breath or cross their fingers, hoping that it won’t screw up their computer. And as we all know, malware can really screw up your system as well, especially when it does so without your knowledge. It would be nice to see any modifications made to a system in real-time. SpyMe Tools does just that.

SpyMe Tools is an application to monitor any registry and disk changes to the system. If anything is installed your PC, SpyMe is able to detect such modifications. Which can become particularly handy when it comes to adware, spyware and just about every other file change at any given point and time.

They do this by constantly looking for changes in your computer and “dumping” them during the various states that it is in. The type of procedure it uses, also makes it work very well for registry backup purposes as well. The dump files are encrypted so that any authorized access cannot look at the specific changes made to the system.

SpyMe Tools

via Lifehacker

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Windows Vista Free UAC Replacment Tool from Norton

T.J. Mininday — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:47:11 +0000

So, has UAC in Vista driven you up the wall yet? Driven you to the point, where you’ve done the research to disable it completely. The fact that you have to press the annoying UAC continue button so frequently that it becomes a built in Windows habit, that eventually will lean you towards allowing viruses, spyware, etc…

Disabling UAC completely defeats one of the big security features of Windows Vista. The fact is, Microsoft is very aware of the problem and complaints, but yet to make any changes with updates or it’s lone service pack. Well, finally some 3rd party support is implementing what essentially a ‘mod’ of UAC. One just recently release from Norton, adds probably the biggest thing that UAC is lacking, a ‘remember’ option.

It will remember anything you mark as trustworthy and will ignore those items during your next session. Here’s Norton putting simply:

The Norton User Account Control tool will replace parts of the Windows Vista UAC system. It will utilize the UAC security feature from the Windows Vista architecture, while simultaneously improving user-friendliness significantly. The tool prompts recommendations based on an assessment on the user-action i.e. the signature information of the executable. The tool also has a “remember me” feature that allows users to suppress future prompts from the same action.

Norton UAC Control

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