Enabling IE Browser Helper SDHelper.dll

This section provides a quick description of Spybot IE spyware blocker, SDHelper.dll and a tutorial example on how to setup SDHelper.dll to show which spyware tracking cookies are blocked.

After I installed Spybot - Search & Destroy, I notice that an IE browser helper object has been installed on my computer. See this entry in the HijackThis report:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} 
   - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll

My guess is that SDHelper.dll is running to prevent spyware infecting my computer through Internet Explorer (IE). Here is what I did to test this:

1. Close all IE browser windows.

2. Run Spybot and click Immunize. It will check the current IE immunity.

3. When the checking is done, make "Enable permanent blocking of bad addresses in Internet Explorer" checked. And select "Ask for blocking confirmation" in the dropdown option list.

4. Run IE browser and visit htt://www.cnn.com. A number of Spybot-S&D Resident confirmation dialog boxes show up. One of them looks like this:

Spybot - IE Spyware Blocker
Spybot - IE Spyware Blocker

5. Read the confirmation message on the dialog box: Spybot-S&D reports that you want to download "/Advertising.com". This is a known threat. Do you want to BLOCK this download?".

6. Click Yes to all confirmation dialog boxes.

What is actually reported by Spybot is that some other Websites used by the CNN home page are trying to send potential spyware tracking cookies to my computer. The word "download" used in the confirmation message is not accurate. IE will not automatically download anything to my computer. Only some cookie data are stored as cookie files.

As you can see, Spybot is doing a good job to watch out any tracking cookies from any Website that is on the big list of known spyware Websites.

If you like to keep this IE spyware blocker, you can change the Spybot immunize option to "Block all bad pages silently". So you don't see the confirmation dialog boxes.

Table of Contents

 About This Windows Security Book

 Windows 8: System Security Review

 Windows 8: System Security Protection

 Windows 8 System Recovery

 Windows 8 Defender for Real-Time Protection

 Windows 7: System Security Review

 Windows 7: System Security Protection

 Windows 7 System Recovery

 Windows 7 Forefront Client Security

 Norton Power Eraser - Anti-Virus Scan Tool

 McAfee Virus and Malware Protection Tools

Spybot - Spyware Blocker, Detection and Removal

 What Is Spybot - Search and Destroy?

 Installing Spybot - Search and Destroy 1.6.2

 Keeping Spybot Up To Date

 On-Demand Scanning of Spyware Infections

 What Is AdRevolver Tracking Cookie

 Removing Reported Tracking Cookies

 Deleting MyWay MySearch Registry Key

Enabling IE Browser Helper SDHelper.dll

 Keeping Firefox Secure

 Keeping IE (Internet Explorer) Secure

 Malware (Adware, Spyware, Trojan, Worm, and Virus)

 HijackThis - Browser Hijacker Diagnosis Tool

 IE Add-on Program Listing and Removal

 "Conduit Search" - Malware Detection and Removal

 "Tube Dimmer", "Scorpion Saver" or "Adpeak" Malware

 Malware Manual Removal Experience

 Vundo (VirtuMonde/VirtuMundo) - vtsts.dll Removal

 Trojan and Malware "Puper" Description and Removal

 VSToolbar (VSAdd-in.dll) - Description and Removal

 PWS (Password Stealer) Trojan Infection Removal

 MS08-001 Vulnerability on Windows Systems

 Antivirus System PRO

 References

 Full Version in PDF/ePUB