Windows Security Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples - v3.01, by Dr. Herong Yang
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:
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 Defender for Real-Time Protection
Windows 7: System Security Review
Windows 7: System Security Protection
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
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 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