Browser (IE) Enforcers

Browser enforcers detect and analyze any attempts to change browser security settings, search settings, and plugin settings. The enforcers compare these changes with those that would be made by potentially malicious software and known malicious software.

If the program added is known to be safe, the enforcer will allow it. If it is a known or potentially malicious application, STOPzilla detects it, blocks it, quarantines it, and alerts you if the appropriate enforcer is enabled.

The following are the Browser enforcers: Protect my Homepage, BHO, Toolbar, Explorer Bars, Extensions, IE Downloads, IE Security Settings, and IE Search Settings. They are enabled by default. It is recommended that you leave the default settings.

You can click on the Summary, Settings, and Quarantine tabs and Network, System, Run Time, and Auto Start sub-tabs within the illustration below to view the contents of the tab or sub-tab.

Protect my Homepage

Type in the URL of your homepage to prevent homepage hijackers from altering your homepage by remote control in an invasive manner.

Homepage hijackers, usually Trojans, can alter the settings of a browser to change your homepage. It can also alter a search page, Favorites menu, and system registry. Malicious scripts can open multiple windows, take you to unwanted, potentially offensive sites, add bookmarks without authorization, and monitor your browsing habits. Homepage hijackers often incorporate malicious ActiveX controls. To enable homepage protection during STOPzilla setup, please see: Enabling Homepage Protection.

Alert me if an external process attempts to change my homepage: If you select (check) this check box,STOPzilla will display an alert each time an attempt is made to change (hijack) your homepage settings from a remote location. If you do not select this option, your homepage will still be protected. However, you will not see the alerts.

BHO

Prevents execution of malicious Browser Helper Objects. BHOs are plugins that provide additional Internet Explorer functionality.

A Browser Helper Object, or BHO, is a small program that runs automatically every time the Internet Explorer browser is opened. These programs, .DLL modules, are designed as plugins to provide added functionality. For example, the Adobe Acrobat plugin that enables IE users to read PDF documents within their browsers is a BHO. Because BHOs have unrestricted access to the Internet Explorer, some forms of Malware are created as BHOs.

For example, one type of malicious BHO can activate upon detecting a secure HTTP connection to a bank or e-commerce site, record the user's keystrokes and transmit the information to the Web site of criminals that created it. Other BHOs can track users' browsing patterns and pass the information they record to unauthorized third parties.

Once installed, malicious BHOs are very difficult to remove because they rarely include a functional uninstall utility, and they could even attempt to “lock” the user out of Internet Explorer’s configuration screens. These aggressive BHOs render unavailable the Internet Explorer options required to remove the malicious software.

Toolbar

Prevents malicious toolbars from being installed and deletes malicious toolbars already installed on your computer.

A toolbar is narrow bar in the graphical user interface of an application that is always visible and contains a set of commonly used buttons or functions. Most toolbars can be moved around the screen to fit the user's preference.

In addition to the toolbars that come with software applications, third party software developers provide supplementary toolbars that can be downloaded and installed, often for free. Supplementary toolbar functions may include enhanced search capabilities, quick links to sports, weather and news; instant access to favorite sites; and faster searches. Some toolbars also contain Adware and Spyware.

Explorer Bars

Detects and prevents modifications from being made to your Explorer Bar in Internet Explorer.

An Explorer bar (band) is a panel like the Favorites, History, or Search panels that you see in Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer.

Extensions

Detects and prevents modifications from being made to your list of Internet Explorer toolbar buttons.

Internet Explorer Extensions controls toolbar buttons on the main Internet Explorer toolbar or items in the Internet Explorer Tools menu that are not part of the default installation. When you click one of these buttons, you can launch an associated application, a script, or load an Internet Explorer Bar. Internet Explorer Menu Extensions are menu options found in the in the Context Menu of Internet Explorer. You will see these options when you right-click on the Web page your are viewing in the browser.

IE Downloads

Monitors files downloaded by Internet Explorer (.CAB, .DLL, .EXE, ActiveX) and detects and prevents malicious downloaders and installers.

IE Security Settings

Monitors and prevents unauthorized changes to your Internet Explorer security settings.

To see or reset your current IE Security settings, in the IE menu bar, select Tools > Internet Options... > Security.

Click Restore Default to revert the system to the original manufacturer's settings.

IE Search Settings

Restores your defaults when settings are changed and pointed toward a malicious domain.