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Reference

Getting started Using SpySheriff

Getting started

What is spyware or adware?
Strictly defined, spyware consists of computer software that gathers and reports information about a computer user without the user's knowledge or consent. More broadly, the term spyware can refer to a wide range of related malware (malicious computer software) products which fall outside the strict definition of spyware. These products perform many different functions, including the delivery of unrequested advertising (pop-up ads in particular), harvesting private information, re-routing page requests to illegally claim commercial site referral fees, and installing stealth phone dialers to get you pay enormous phone bills. Spyware as a category overlaps with adware. The more unethical forms of adware tend to coalesce with spyware. Malware uses spyware for explicitly illegal purposes. Exceptionally, many web browser toolbars may count as spyware. If the software collects personal information without the user's permission (a list of websites visited, for example, or a log of keystrokes), it may become spyware. Lots of criminals all over the world are targeting their illegal business to steel your personal info or make you suffer in other ways.

How could that possibly affect me?
Well, actually, very simply. The moment you start getting into trouble is when you start your browser to do some surfing. Visiting injurious websites with so-called exploits on them, makes you a victim of various sorts of spyware, adware and on. Generally, this happens when you are looking for free adult content or pirated software. If you have visited such websites once, be sure you are infected.

How can I notice a spyware is hiding somewhere in my PC?
Generally, you cannot and, when hiding, spyware is not harmful. But if it wakes up to life, it becomes really really dangerous for you, your family and your PC. First, you notice your computer become slower than before, then some pop-up ads come up. And, finally, you find your child watching adult materials delivered as an advertisement by spyware module. That is not a favourite thing for a parent to explain to a kid why these pictures are on the screen and why dad watches them... You can even lose your life savings if you access your online banking terminal from the PC with keylogger spyware installed.

I know it's there! What should I do?
You must fight! This is the only way you can keep spyware away. There are many tools available, but most of them are inefficient or too expensive. We offer you a new and unique heuristics-based spyware removal software - SpySheriff It cleans your PC and prevents dangerous software from getting in again.

No, there's nothing strange in my PC!
Sure? We are not. Actually, according to National Institute of Computer Science recent report, every 9 of 10 PCs are infected with some kind of spyware or adware and if not, the risk is huge. So, do not wait until the threat becomes real and develops into something terrible. Protect your PC right now with SpySheriff Remove hidden spyware and set up a steadfast protection shield over your computer.

What is SpySheriff and why do I need it?
If you haven't read above yet, please do so now. SpySheriff is a new and unique heuristics-based spyware removal software. It not only cleans your PC but helps keeping it safe from future infections. With its stunning security system your computer will never ever be a victim of spyware. Try SpySheriff now to find out if you are infected. It's easy and free for all!

Why SpySheriff is so different?
The key features if SpySheriff are:

  • Large and constantly updating spyware database that helps in finding and removing 0-day new spyware.
  • Quick and accurate scan and removal of threats due to a new algorithm implemented.
  • Process Security feature that prevents unwanted application from execution.
  • Scheduled scan and automatic removal features.
  • Internet Explorer security silently blocks pop-ups, dangerous javascripts, unwanted locations known as exploited by spyware, protects homepage and searchpage.
  • System Security feature that protects various system settings from being maliciously changed.
  • 50% lower prices in comparison with the other products of this class with 150% more functionality.
  • Friendly and helping ticket-based online support.

    What am I waiting for?
    We don't know either! Don't wait! Protect your PC right away! Download and try SpySheriff for free.

    What are trial version limitations?
    In trial version of SpySheriff you can only scan for spyware but not remove it. Other features are also limited in use. Although trial version never expires, it is not what your PC really wants. It wants to be safe and clean, so consider purchasing the full version to get all the benifits listed above and remove spyware from your life once forever.

    Using SpySheriff

    Installation
    We tried our best to make working with SpySheriff as easy as possible.
    Once you download and run SpySheriff Online Installer you see

    Click "Install SpySheriff Spyware remover" button and the process of downloading begins. It takes approximately 5 minutes on a 56k Modem line. Download progress is shown on the progress bar and in number of bytes above it.

    You can cancel downloading any time by exiting installer and next time you start SpySheriff SpySheriff Online Installer it resumes downloading from where it stopped. So you never lose your precious time. When the process of downloading finishes, SpySheriff starts automatically, performs initial procedures and starts scanning for spyware. The following icon appears in the system tray:

    See tray icon reference.

    Opening SpySheriff Control Panel
    Each and every SpySheriff feature is accessible from SpySheriff Control Panel. To open SpySheriff Control Panel double click on SpySheriff tray icon or right click on it and choose Open SpySheriff Control Panel from the context menu. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version. In trial version "Found threats" list appears grayed (disabled).

    Scanning for and removing spyware
    Open SpySheriff Control Panel and click "Start Scan" button. Deep system scan now begins. You can monitor scanning activities on the progress bar at the lower left corner. The threat name being checked is displayed above. If scan finds anything it will be displayed in the "Found threats" list with it's name, a brief description and a checkbox, by checking or unchecking of which you add or remove this threat to the waiting-for-removal list. When scan process is finished, "Remove found threats" option becomes active. Clicking it eliminates checked spyware. It is not a good idea to uncheck any line in the list because doing so makes the corresponding spyware stay.

    Setting up permanent protection and other options
    Open SpySheriff Control Panel and refer to Settings section clicking an appropriate button on the left. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version. In trial version this section appears grayed.
    Current protection level is shown in the bottom-right corner of the dialog. This helps you to find best options to check. Please see below for detailed descriptions of each section.

    Process Security application firewall section
    "Enable Process Security" checkbox enables Process Security application firewall. This prevents unwanted applications from execution. Once enabled it monitors all software activities and decides whether to allow or restrict every application according to the rules set. To set the rules, please click "Edit Process Security Rules" button. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version. In trial version this dialog appears grayed.
    Select desirable option in Policies section. Depending on your choice, SpySheriff treats records in two lists below. Although they are pretty self-explaining, here are what they do:

  • Allow all except restricted. This option ignores "Allowed applications" list and restricts running of applications from "Restricted applications" list.
  • Restrict all except allowed. This option ignores "Restricted applications" list and allows running of applications only from "Allowed applications" list. Be very careful with this option. DO NOT CHECK THIS OPTION UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Disallowing all applications may make system unable to start.
  • Ask for neither restricted nor allowed. Most reasonable choice. This option takes in account both "Allowed applications" and "Restricted applications" lists allowing and restricting corresponding applications. If the application that is trying to start is not in either list you will get a dialog box where you can choose how to treat this application. The dialog looks like this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version. This dialog never appears in trial version.
    You can see full application path to make sure this is the right or wrong application to run on your machine. Click "Allow" to allow this application to run this time and add it to "Allowed applications" list. Clicking "Allow once" does the same but does not add the app to "Allowed applications" list. Click "Deny" to deny this application to run this time and add it to "Restricted applications" list. Clicking "Deny once" does the same but does not add the app to "Restricted applications" list. You can edit "Restricted applications" and "Allowed applications" list manually. Uncheck this or that application to leave it in the list view but not to use it when making decisions. Check it back if you decide it has to be taken into account. Highlight the line with mouseclick and press "Delete" key to remove the application from the list permanently. Double click on empty line to begin entering new application path. Press "Enter" key afterwards. Double click on any line to begin editing of the path, "Enter" finishes editing.

    Internet Explorer Security section
    This section handles various settings that make your Internet Explorer really secure. Here are the checkboxes you may use:

  • Block Popup windows - enables anti-popup protections. This switches off any annoying popups or popunders.
  • Block Iframe tags - enables iframe protection. Generally, iframe tags may be used not only for breaking into your PC, but very often it is used for loading invisible pages from malicious webservers.
  • Block dangerous locations - enables real-time location watch. List of unwanted locations is updated from SpySheriff server to keep you away from malicious websites and dangerous domains.
  • Block dangerous JavaScript - we have gathered a huge database of harmful scripts signatures. Let us prevent your browser from crashes and your PC from exploit infections.
  • Block dangerous tags - removes dangerous or annoying parts of every web page, e.g. "object" tag that is used to upload spyware through ActiveX.
  • Protect current homepage and searchpage - prevents current homepage and searchpage settings from being changed. This is a common practice among spywares to change homepage and searchpage to the ones controlled by their authors.
    Remember to restart Internet Explorer after making any changes in this section.

    System Security section
    This section handles real-time protection settings. Here are the checkboxes you may use:

  • Protect Active Desktop settings - freezes current Active Desktop settings. This is a common practice among spywares to change these settings so that your desktop becomes an advertisement billboard.
  • Protect hosts file - freezes current hosts file state. Hosts file controls name to ip-address resolution and is used by spyware to spoof internet locations, e.g. bank websites, and replace it's content by something dangerous.
  • Protect current autorun list - freezes current autorun list state, preventing spyware from loading on reboot.

    SpySheriff Settings and Scan Settings sections
    These two sections control miscellaneous parameters.

  • Start with Windows - makes SpySheriff run on system startup to ensure permanent protection. It is strongly recommended to check this option.
  • Scan on startup - starts deep scan on every SpySheriff run. This is recommended to check this option.
  • Enable sounds - controls sound notifications.
  • Scan every day at <hour> : <minute> - sets SpySheriff scan schedule to an appropriate time.
  • Delete found threats - enables automatic deletion of spyware right after the scan. This option is especially useful when scan is scheduled to make sure everything is cleaned without your participation.

    Closing SpySheriff
    Clicking top-right corner cross does not cause SpySheriff to exit. It only closes Control Panel window. Real-time protection remains. To exit SpySheriff right click on SpySheriff tray icon and select "Exit SpySheriff" from context menu. Be careful, this stops any run-time protection.

    SpySheriff tray icon reference
    Every icon state is accompanied with a tooltip. Hover your mouse cursor over the icon to see the tip.
    Tray icon Explanation
    High protection level. This is normal state that is recommended.
    Medium protection level. Good, but not enough. Consider checking more security options in Settings section.
    Low protection level, if any. Strongly recommended that you check more security options in Settings section.
    and blinking System scan has recently been finished. No threats found. You are safe.
    and blinking System scan has recently been finished. Some threats were found. Open SpySheriff Control Panel and see Scan and Remove section.

    Purchasing SpySheriff
    After trying SpySheriff for free or if your license has expired and you wish to buy a new one, use the following easy steps to do so. Open SpySheriff Control Panel and refer to Updates & Licensing section clicking an appropriate button on the left. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from trial version or if the license has expired.
    Click "Purchase/Renew/Recover License" button. Internet Explorer window will open. Follow on-screen instructions to walk through the process.

    Recovering SpySheriff license
    If you have reinstalled operating system or hdd, you'll have to recover your SpySheriff license. Open SpySheriff Control Panel and refer to Updates & Licensing section clicking an appropriate button on the left. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version.
    Click "Purchase/Renew/Recover License" button. Internet Explorer window will open. Follow on-screen instructions to walk through the process.

    Updating SpySheriff
    Once or twice every week, SpySheriff team releases system databases updates. Open SpySheriff Control Panel and refer to Updates & Licensing section clicking an appropriate button on the left. You should see this:

    * this shows screenshot from registered version.
    Click "Download & Install updates" and wait while SpySheriff downloads and installs updates. Update process can be monitored on the progress bar in the bottom left corner. System messages and urgent SpySheriff announces appear in the read-only field above. Please read them carefully as useful information is provided there.

    Uninstalling SpySheriff
    If you wish to remove SpySheriff trial or full version from your PC please follow these simple steps. Click "Start" button and select Settings. Choose "Control panel" in the context submenu on the right. In the opened window find and double click "Add/Remove programs" utility. You should see a list of programs installed on your machine. Locate SpySheriff, highlight it and click "Replace/Remove" button. Follow on-screen instructions then.

    Submitting new threat to SpySheriff
    If your PC is infected with a spyware that SpySheriff is unable to find or remove, that means this is a very new species and we have to examine it to add a new spyware definition to our database. Help us protect you and other users, write a feedback describing everything odd you noticed on your PC. Please provide as much info as possible.