Hello everyone. Here is another of the security programs to make your browsing more secured. If you have already followed the previous SpywareBlaster (SB) tutorial, then this one can be understood as a complimentary to the SB. This program is also from Javacool Software Company, named as SpywareGuard, and I shall call it SG from now on.
How is it different from SB?It needs to be loaded with Windows to provide the Real Time Protection and it cautions the user about any BHO (Browser Helper Object) that tries to get installed in user's PC. Though it does not provide any protection against ActiveX objects which SB provides. So now you know why I called these to complementary to each other at the beginning.
Name: SpywareGuard.
Latest version: 2.2
Homepage: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
Download: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html
Purpose:
- Fast Real-Time Scanning engine - catch and block spyware before it is executed (EXE and CAB files supported) with signature-based scanning for known spyware and heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch new/mutated spyware
- Download Protection - prevent spyware from being download in Internet Explorer
- Browser Hijacking Protection - stop browser hijacking activity in real-time
- SG LiveUpdate - provides an easy updating solution
- Small size - with a small size and small definition sizes, download and updates are quick
- Report Capabilities - keep a detailed log of all spyware detected
- Spyware files are blocked before being opened or run - they are not simply shut down after they are loaded in memory (and after they have performed their tasks)
System Requirements: Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP
Price: Free, you may donate if you wish.
How to Read this Pictorial: This Pictorial is divided in to three broad sections-
- Download the software installer.
- Installation of the software.
- Configuration and use of the software.
SECTION A (Download)
Step 1: The first thing that we need to do is to go to the homepage. I have used Firefox throughout, and I urge all my visitors to do so (you may get the download link at the left side of my blog). You should see the following page in your browser.
Look carefully at the name of the company, program name and the software logo. SpywareGuard is rather a common name, so a Google search may show you thousands of very nearly matching names. So you need to check these two in case you do not visit the site directly from my blog. If you have assured yourself that you are at the right place, scroll down to the end of the page and find the following:
hit on the "Download SpywareGuard 2.2" link.Step 2: As you hot on the above link you will reach the download page as below:
This page shows you all the servers where the installer is available. Remember not to choose "Minimal Installation (the First Link), that is not for the first time users. Choose any link from highlighted two and click on that. I chose the first link.Step 3: Depending on your connection speed, the page will refresh itself and a confirmation window will be opened by your browser (this may vary according to your browser's settings).
See the confirmation window is showing you the installer name. Just hit "Save File" button and the download will progress automatically. If your settings allow you to choose the location for the saved file, then I would suggest that save it on the Desktop. That will be easy to locate. It is a very small installer, so even if you are on a 56kbps dial up connection, it should not take much time.SECTION B (Installation)
Step 4: Locate the installer file saved on the desktop (or where ever else that you chose to save it).
Step 5: Double click on the installer to get the following window:
Just hit "Next" to continue.Step 6: See the following window
Accept the license agreement by hitting "Yes".Step 7: Now you can see the following window. This window provides all the information about the program. Specially, the features...look at the highlighted section of the window.
Step 8: At this step you get to know about the location for installation of the software:
If you accept the default location, just hit "Next" and go to Step 9. If you decide to choose some other location for the installation then follow the next step.Step 8/1:
just click on the "Drop Down Arrow" beside the box (Yellow Circled) and choose the desired destination drive and location folder. You can choose the location of your choice from the above window, or you may directly type it in the top field where the default location is being shown. Once you are done, hit "OK" and you will be back in the window of Step 8, but this time showing your choice in the 'Installation Location' field. Hit "Next" at the step 8 screen to continue.
If you still want to change, hit the "Drop Down Arrow" and choose Custom Installation and you may decide not to install the support files.
Step 10: In this window you have the opportunity to let the program add Shortcuts of the Program and the Update Component of th program to the Desktop.
I suggest that you leave the check mark unchanged and hit the "Next" button...
Step 11:
This is the review of your final installation related settings. If you are still in a mood for changing anything, just hit the "Back" button and change whatever you like. Otherwise, just click on "Install".
Step 12:
Just let the installation complete. The 'progress bar' will touch the end and you get a screen as the one in the next step. I do not suggest that you should hit the "cancel" button to stop the installation at this step.
Step 13: The following is the information window about this program.
Look at the marked words...it tells you that it is a complete freeware..so no worries.
Step 14: Congratulations!!! Installation completed successfully.
Hit "Next" button to start to update. You can see the following Update screens.
The following screen will show that the update is in progress
As the update is completed you can see the following screen telling you that the process has completed successfully.
Hit "Exit" button to terminate the update module of this program.
Step 17: Now click on the SG icon in the system tray to launch the main program window.
This screen tells you the "Status" of the defense provided by the program. You should see Green check marks beside all the modules of the program. The lower half of this window shows you the program version and Definition date. If you require any detailed information about any of the three program modules, just bring the mouse pointer near it. You can see that in the Right Pane of the Program Window, detail about that module is shown.
Step 18: The next button is "Report".
Hitting this will bring out the activities of the program. It is a kind of a log and will be displayed inside the program window. You can clear this log if you wish by hitting the "Clear Log" button.
Step 18: The next one is the "Options" button. There are three main classes of option.
The first one is "General" option. Just make sure that all the three boxes are checked.
The next one is the way you want to be protected. There are three ways: simple Alert, Alert and Suggested Action and Silent Blocking.
I suggest that you keep the first option, that is "Alert and Prompt for Action" enabled. Though you may choose any of the three.
The last one is "Password Setting". This is an option for you to protect the settings of this program using a password.
I generally do not use it. It is completely upon you, the user. If you feel that you need it, just carry on and fill away.
Once everything is done, press the "Save Settings" button at the top right corner of the program window.
Step 19: At this step let me tell you about the two remaining features of this program. One we have already used- "Live Update". You can access that module of the program using the "Live Update" button placed here. it will launch the same as we have seen in Step 16. In future you may update your program database from here too.
The last one is "About". You may be thinking what is there! Just the names and all. Yes true, but in the "About" screen you can see a button labeled as "System Info". Hit this button you can get the full system information of your PC. Cool!! Isn't it?
We are at the end of our Pictorial. Nothing more to do. Just click on the "x" button to close the program.
Note that you do need to keep SG running to use its protection, but there is hardly any resources consumed by this program.
Remember: SpywareGuard is not a replacement for standard AntiVirus or other real time guards like firewall. It is an add on protective protective program which tries to thwart attack even before it reaches your system.
If you have liked this, please do not forget to sign my guest book. You can also request Pictorials for specific softwares, but those should preferably be free ones.
Step 9: At this window you can see the components you want to install. The default is "Full Installation", and I suggest that you keep it so.
If you still want to change, hit the "Drop Down Arrow" and choose Custom Installation and you may decide not to install the support files.
Step 10: In this window you have the opportunity to let the program add Shortcuts of the Program and the Update Component of th program to the Desktop.
I suggest that you leave the check mark unchanged and hit the "Next" button...Step 11:
This is the review of your final installation related settings. If you are still in a mood for changing anything, just hit the "Back" button and change whatever you like. Otherwise, just click on "Install".
Step 12:
Just let the installation complete. The 'progress bar' will touch the end and you get a screen as the one in the next step. I do not suggest that you should hit the "cancel" button to stop the installation at this step.Step 13: The following is the information window about this program.
Look at the marked words...it tells you that it is a complete freeware..so no worries.Step 14: Congratulations!!! Installation completed successfully.
I suggest that you leave the check mark so that this program launches itself as soon as you click "Finish". If you for some reason can not do that, just clear the check box and hit "Finish". Later, you can launch the program from Start Menu or double clicking the icon on the desktop. Either way, you need to press "Finish" now.
This concludes the Section B of this Pictorial.
SECTION C (Configuration and Use)
Step 15: As soon as you press "Finish in the previous step, SpyawreGuard starts running.
Now you can see the two icons (one for the main program and the other for Live Update of the program's database) sitting peacefully on your desktop and a bright red SG logo displayed at the system tray, hence confirming that the program is up and running.
Step 16: Now double click on the SpywareGuard LiveUpdate icon on the desktop to launch the following window.
This concludes the Section B of this Pictorial.
SECTION C (Configuration and Use)
Step 15: As soon as you press "Finish in the previous step, SpyawreGuard starts running.
Now you can see the two icons (one for the main program and the other for Live Update of the program's database) sitting peacefully on your desktop and a bright red SG logo displayed at the system tray, hence confirming that the program is up and running.Step 16: Now double click on the SpywareGuard LiveUpdate icon on the desktop to launch the following window.
Hit "Next" button to start to update. You can see the following Update screens.
The following screen will show that the update is in progress
As the update is completed you can see the following screen telling you that the process has completed successfully.
Hit "Exit" button to terminate the update module of this program.Step 17: Now click on the SG icon in the system tray to launch the main program window.
This screen tells you the "Status" of the defense provided by the program. You should see Green check marks beside all the modules of the program. The lower half of this window shows you the program version and Definition date. If you require any detailed information about any of the three program modules, just bring the mouse pointer near it. You can see that in the Right Pane of the Program Window, detail about that module is shown.
Step 18: The next button is "Report".
Hitting this will bring out the activities of the program. It is a kind of a log and will be displayed inside the program window. You can clear this log if you wish by hitting the "Clear Log" button.Step 18: The next one is the "Options" button. There are three main classes of option.
The first one is "General" option. Just make sure that all the three boxes are checked.The next one is the way you want to be protected. There are three ways: simple Alert, Alert and Suggested Action and Silent Blocking.
I suggest that you keep the first option, that is "Alert and Prompt for Action" enabled. Though you may choose any of the three.The last one is "Password Setting". This is an option for you to protect the settings of this program using a password.
I generally do not use it. It is completely upon you, the user. If you feel that you need it, just carry on and fill away.Once everything is done, press the "Save Settings" button at the top right corner of the program window.
Step 19: At this step let me tell you about the two remaining features of this program. One we have already used- "Live Update". You can access that module of the program using the "Live Update" button placed here. it will launch the same as we have seen in Step 16. In future you may update your program database from here too.
The last one is "About". You may be thinking what is there! Just the names and all. Yes true, but in the "About" screen you can see a button labeled as "System Info". Hit this button you can get the full system information of your PC. Cool!! Isn't it?
We are at the end of our Pictorial. Nothing more to do. Just click on the "x" button to close the program.
Note that you do need to keep SG running to use its protection, but there is hardly any resources consumed by this program.
Remember: SpywareGuard is not a replacement for standard AntiVirus or other real time guards like firewall. It is an add on protective protective program which tries to thwart attack even before it reaches your system.
If you have liked this, please do not forget to sign my guest book. You can also request Pictorials for specific softwares, but those should preferably be free ones.
