Spybot load error...suggestion for next release

[MarkH]

I do not use Internet Explorer or Outlook Express, and a long time ago I found a neat trick which makes it impossible for any program/trojan/etc to access the Internet through IE/Windows and "phone home". That trick is to rename the WININET.DLL file to anything else and then reboot.

Most programs which have a "Search for Updates" feature will detect that there is no IE-based internet access available, and either grey out the feature or display a message stating that online updates are not available on my system.

Without WININET.DLL available, when loading Spybot S&D displays a bizarre error message and then aborts.

Would it be possible in future versions to check whether online updates are even possible on a system, and if not, allow the program to run without this feature?

Thanks for your consideration!

Mark