If you go into Start > Control Panel > Security Center > Resources (on the left hand side of the window – expand if necessary) > click "Change the way Security Center alerts me". This brings up an "Alert Setting" window.
There are three possible alerts:
- Firewall
Alert me if my computer might be at risk because of my firewall settings
- Automatic Updates
Alert me if my computer might be at risk because of my Automatic Updates settings
- Virus Protection
Alert me if my computer might be at risk because of my virus protection software settings
I believe that you will find that the first and third items are unchecked. This is the cause of the following Spybot detections:
Code:
Windows Security Center.FirewallDisableNotify: Settings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\FirewallDisableNotify!=dword:0
Windows Security Center.AntiVirusDisableNotify: Settings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\AntiVirusDisableNotify!=dword:0
These alerts could have been turned off manually, by some security solution (see Note #1) or by malware. Spybot-S&D is alerting that there is an abnormal setting in the Windows Security Center that requires your attention.
For more information see:
Also see:
Note #1: Some security solutions such as McAfee SecurityCenter (if you set it as your default Security Center) or Norton Internet Security turn off these alerts and handle alerts themselves.
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Tracking cookies – blocking
Advertising.com and ClickAgents are Tracking Cookies. Tracking Cookies are cookies stored on your computer by a 3rd party not directly related to the web site you're currently viewing. The intention of this cookie is to track your movement as you surf between sites.
If you are running Internet Explorer the storing of these particular Tracking Cookies can be prevented by enabling Spybot's Browser Helper Object (BHO). To do this go into Spybot-S&D > Immunize. Look in the last section labeled "Permanently running bad download blocker for Internet Explorer". Check the following:
- "Enable permanent blocking of bad addresses in Internet Explorer"
In the pull-down below "Enable permanent blocking of bad addresses in Internet Explorer" there are three options:
- Block all pages silently
- Display dialog when blocking
- Ask for blocking confirmation
Many people find the messages that this facility can produce annoying. If you would like to keep the messages from popping and still block the tracking cookies, you can do that by selecting "Block all pages silently".
There is another way to prevent the downloading of Tracking Cookies in Internet Explorer (even those not blocked by Spybot's resident BHO) as well as the storing of Tracking Cookies in other WEB browsers. See:
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From the following article:
SUMMARY
Safe Mode is a special diagnostic mode that bypasses Windows startup files, allowing you to fix problems that are keeping your computer from functioning normally. Only the keyboard, mouse, and VGA display drivers are loaded when running in Safe Mode. Other devices, including the CD-ROM, parallel ports, and serial ports may not be available.
