1. Scan in compressed archives
Spyware tries to hide in archive files or compressed files (ZIP, RAR, CAB, ...) very often. Enable this option to avoid this risk.
2. Scan NTFS Alternate Data Stream
NTFS based data systems operate with different simultaneous data streams. Access authorizations and the origin data of the file are transmitted together. To monitor these combined streams, this option should be activated.
3. Identify and report spyware in files
Ashampoo AntiSpyWare 2 detects and cleanses Spyware which is found in your files. This function has no effect on registry entries, cookies and running processes.
4. Use heuristic analysis to identify unknown threats
In addition to known threats the program’s advanced heuristic analysis can also identify unknown malware by its behavior and structure and blocks it before it does any damage.
5. Identify and report riskware
Riskware is computer software, which actually was not programmed and intended as malware, but has security critical functions. These functions can be used to start or stop computer processes or computer services. In same cases (i.e. Passwortgrabber, web server, etc.) these application are useful and worth keeping them. Before doing so, get the latest information from the internet to avoid needless risks.
6. Report tracking cookies that can compromise your privacy
A tracking cookie is a little text file which is saved by your computer after visiting a web site. Unlike the ordinary cookie, that only saves the personal settings at one site, the tracking cookies reports your whole way through the internet. Some sites (i.e. shops) need tracking cookies to work properly, just disable this option for this case.
7. Exclude false alarms upon infections of the registry base
The registry is a database of all configuration settings of your system. To detect infections in this place, Ashampoo AntiSpyWare 2 uses an efficient method to scan it. Due to its central function in Windows, some settings and keys are misinterpreted by other spyware tools. To avoid these errors, this option sets up a special mode to protect and scan your registry without erroneous results.
8. Report infections whose behaviour resembles infected source code
Some files are alike infections i.e. to test antivirus programs but don't pose a threat at all. To avoid these false alarms, just enable this option.
