Spybot Anti-Beacon for Windows 10

Hammer23 said:
To add onto that, I have tried using hostsman and it is also unable to save over the file as well. SO I think they made an update to the file so that its harder for users to edit the file.
Click to expand...

The hosts file can get fairly large if populated with many entries and I've found that this can cause slow internet response times and also issues with "slowness" for programs that may access hosts... Also some antivirus / firewall programs lock down the hosts file (spybot can do this as well). Perhaps google to see if your antivirus is one of those that lock hosts file. Just for kicks check to see if you have spybot locking it. Also, in the past I have run into issues with spybot taking long periods to do some file operations on certain PC's with certain operating systems= walk away from it and give it a few hours on its own if you have to leave it over-night to see if it will complete the operation you are attempting.
 
Solarsails said:
The hosts file can get fairly large if populated with many entries and I've found that this can cause slow internet response times and also issues with "slowness" for programs that may access hosts... Also some antivirus / firewall programs lock down the hosts file (spybot can do this as well). Perhaps google to see if your antivirus is one of those that lock hosts file. Just for kicks check to see if you have spybot locking it. Also, in the past I have run into issues with spybot taking long periods to do some file operations on certain PC's with certain operating systems= walk away from it and give it a few hours on its own if you have to leave it over-night to see if it will complete the operation you are attempting.
Click to expand...

To avoid problems on internet while using large HOSTS file (bigger than 100 KB) there's a known workaround that is to set the Windows DNS client service ("Dnscache") on manual/disabled.
 
Change in background usage? Office 16 (2016) Telemetry Scheduled Tasks

Hello Spybot team and members,

I'm new to using this program so, for that excuse my ignorance.

None the less, I have a few questions if you could be so kind to answer.

When I initially installed the Spybot Anit-Beacon 1.5 program onto my laptop, I did notice heavy CPU usage from 25%-40% at times. I did see in my Task Manager that Spybot was the cause. This CPU usage depleted my battery quite quickly.
Now, I did read other comments and posts done by members regarding this issue and to clarify I am running Webroot Anti-virus which I've heard is the contributor to the CPU usage because the two programs don't mesh well together (correct me if I'm wrong with that statement).I did notice when I was observing the Task Manager that Spybot was a running program in the background to be on-going protection. Now, in saying all this, I've recently noticed while having the Task Manager open Spybot is no longer a running in the background column? Has something changed? Did I do something incorrectly? I just want to make sure I'm doing this correctly.
When I run the program, it's stating that I have a 100% protection.

Second, I have also noticed that under the optional tab for protection the Office 16(2016) Telemetry Scheduled Tasks will not activate when I press apply.
I do disable my Webroot Anti-virus when making changes to Spybot since I won't enable otherwise.
Thoughts?

Thank you, Spybot team and members for the time and effort!

I'm looking forward to your response.
 
Undo Telemetry Hosts

I have trouble getting achievements unlocked on Windows 10 and I have seen it might be because of telemetry blocks, so I try and undo that but then Spybot Anti-Beacon just stop responding. I have also tried and uninstall and then re-install but then it just starts blocking everything immediately.
 
Stop Blocking Windows Media PLayer

HI,
as the title - anti-beacon has set the host add for redir.metaservices to 0.0.0 so i can't get album info, how do i turn it back on?

TIA
 
wolfie138 said:
HI,
as the title - anti-beacon has set the host add for redir.metaservices to 0.0.0 so i can't get album info, how do i turn it back on?

TIA
Click to expand...

Find your HOSTS file
usually in %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc​
Make sure that it's not set as read only.
Edit the file and remove the line that contains the host that you don't want to be blocked.
Wait some minutes or reboot the system, so the changes get applied.


BTW, Spybot people: I'm getting pretty pissed about sites like this that logout the user after a couple of minutes. Not funny at all.
 
Anti-Beacon & Windows 7 Experience & concerns

I have installed [Oct 2016] Anti-Beacon on 8 Windows 7 PC's and have seen no problems. I understand that Windows telemetry is more limited on Win7 as is the required blocking...this simpler approach probably reduces problems. Also I don't Skype or use Windows Media Player.
My main concern is that Anti-Beacon hasn't been updated since it was introduced over a year ago. Meanwhile Microsoft continues to release updates that may affect or increase their privacy intrusion...even on Windows 7.
I would like some assurance that the Spybot team is reviewing the telemetry status and updating anti-beacon's blocking...or at least confirming that it's all good...no worries.
There are other products out there with greater focus that are more current...I would prefer to stick with anti-beacon but a year is a long time to go without an update in the spyware biz...and yes I consider Microsoft's telemetry spyware.
Thanks for considering.
 
santino said:
Find your HOSTS file
usually in %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc​
Make sure that it's not set as read only.
Edit the file and remove the line that contains the host that you don't want to be blocked.
Wait some minutes or reboot the system, so the changes get applied.


BTW, Spybot people: I'm getting pretty pissed about sites like this that logout the user after a couple of minutes. Not funny at all.
Click to expand...

worked like a charm. much obliged, bud :-)
 
santino said:
Find your HOSTS file
usually in %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc​
Make sure that it's not set as read only.
Edit the file and remove the line that contains the host that you don't want to be blocked.
Wait some minutes or reboot the system, so the changes get applied.


BTW, Spybot people: I'm getting pretty pissed about sites like this that logout the user after a couple of minutes. Not funny at all.
Click to expand...

spoke too soon - it worked, but now it's created ANOTHER new hosts file w/ my commented-out entry, but a new entry for redir.meta at the bottom - how do i stop it doing that?
TIA
 
wolfie138 said:
spoke too soon - it worked, but now it's created ANOTHER new hosts file w/ my commented-out entry, but a new entry for redir.meta at the bottom - how do i stop it doing that?
TIA
Click to expand...
If you reapply the changes with Anti-Beacon that's probably the cause for that line reappearing on the HOSTS file.
You can undo the change manually every time you use this software or try with HostsMan and check the "exclusion list" option.
Cheers
 
Does Spybot Anti-Beacon do any changes on the System Configuration?

Hello,
I am new here and hope at the right spot to ask something. I just was looking at my System configuration and noticed that my startup selection is selective startup and not normal startup. Now, has it to do with Spybot? If yes, ok and if not i will select my normal startup again. not that i have any problems with my pc but i wonder if the protection spybot did has something to do. Running a win10, Ram 8gb, i3-3220 @ 3.3GHz. Dont know if its needed.
Thanks in advanced and a great software
Alberto
 
SB Anti-beacon options page scroll-bar fails. Also, download 1.5.0.35 reverts to 1.5

SB Anti-beacon options page scroll-bar fails. Also, download 1.5.0.35 reverts to 1.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is this project properly alive?

I installed SB A-B recently (23rd Nov), download SpybotAntiBeacon was version 1.5, when installed it calls itself version 1.5

Bug:
On the second 'page', "options", the scroll-bar is disconnected from the content.
I've reinstalled the same download to check it wasn't compromised, same problem.spybo anti-bea scrollbah Capture.PNG

Checked here. (The UI should really have 'about' links, but I googled it)

I see that v1.5.0.35 is offered, but when I go to download it (from https://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=58 ), the download called SDAnti-Beacon-1.5.exe (unchanged to ..35)

Standalone has the same fault here, scrollbar disconnect on 'options' page.

Returned to https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/
I thought I'd try the installed version (though I'd rather not), offered as v1.15.0.35
(at https://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=55 )
again the actual dl is v1.5, not 1.5.0.35

"This will install SpyBot Anti-Beacon version 1.5 on your computer" (Not 1.5.0.35), it says.

Was about to go ahead anyway.
Then checked and saw that the actual download page isn't SSL secured (!)
download.spybot.info/AntiBeacon/StandAlone/SDAntiBeacon-1.5.exe#hash(md5:F7111C90C6C3FCF014DC7D0FC78CDF64)
(Checked the SSL status with firefox calomel.org addon)

Decided not to go ahead for now.
If the download server is compromised, ... well, you work it out, I shouldn't be explicit here should I?
I see the hash is supplied by a page which is SSL protected, so it should be okay (if I trust the installer to check the hash properly, not just to skip validation).

Somehow I feel you should fix that.

As for the UI itself (the v1.5 I have), it doesn't have a date anywhere. It does say version 1.5 though.
I wasn't told there was a (phantom?) update. Auto update would be nice.

There's no "about" page referencing your good selves, nor your forum here. But I found it anyway, no sweat.

Could you please fix whatever needs fixing?

1) if there is a version 1.5.0.35, perhaps the download should send that and not 1.5
2) the download should, please, be properly SSL secured (see calomel.org)
2a) and the hash should be checked; may I presume it is? We aren't told. I hope it is.
3) BUGG: The scroll on the "options" page is disconnected, please fix.
4) please check that phone-home protection is up-to-date with latest win10, and let us know in the UI that SB-AB is up to date as at whatever date
5) Did I miss the reminder about the (phantom) update? No sign of it in the UI. (Please, something.)
6) An "about" page with links to origin web-page & forum, that would be nice, and fairly standard.

Thanks
 
Methuzla said:
SB Anti-beacon options page scroll-bar fails. Also, download 1.5.0.35 reverts to 1.5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is this project properly alive?

I installed SB A-B recently (23rd Nov), download SpybotAntiBeacon was version 1.5, when installed it calls itself version 1.5

Bug:
On the second 'page', "options", the scroll-bar is disconnected from the content.
I've reinstalled the same download to check it wasn't compromised, same problem.View attachment 12740

Checked here. (The UI should really have 'about' links, but I googled it)

I see that v1.5.0.35 is offered, but when I go to download it (from https://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=58 ), the download called SDAnti-Beacon-1.5.exe (unchanged to ..35)

Standalone has the same fault here, scrollbar disconnect on 'options' page.

Returned to https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/
I thought I'd try the installed version (though I'd rather not), offered as v1.15.0.35
(at https://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=55 )
again the actual dl is v1.5, not 1.5.0.35

"This will install SpyBot Anti-Beacon version 1.5 on your computer" (Not 1.5.0.35), it says.

Was about to go ahead anyway.
Then checked and saw that the actual download page isn't SSL secured (!)
download.spybot.info/AntiBeacon/StandAlone/SDAntiBeacon-1.5.exe#hash(md5:F7111C90C6C3FCF014DC7D0FC78CDF64)
(Checked the SSL status with firefox calomel.org addon)

Decided not to go ahead for now.
If the download server is compromised, ... well, you work it out, I shouldn't be explicit here should I?
I see the hash is supplied by a page which is SSL protected, so it should be okay (if I trust the installer to check the hash properly, not just to skip validation).

Somehow I feel you should fix that.

As for the UI itself (the v1.5 I have), it doesn't have a date anywhere. It does say version 1.5 though.
I wasn't told there was a (phantom?) update. Auto update would be nice.

There's no "about" page referencing your good selves, nor your forum here. But I found it anyway, no sweat.

Could you please fix whatever needs fixing?

1) if there is a version 1.5.0.35, perhaps the download should send that and not 1.5
2) the download should, please, be properly SSL secured (see calomel.org)
2a) and the hash should be checked; may I presume it is? We aren't told. I hope it is.
3) BUGG: The scroll on the "options" page is disconnected, please fix.
4) please check that phone-home protection is up-to-date with latest win10, and let us know in the UI that SB-AB is up to date as at whatever date
5) Did I miss the reminder about the (phantom) update? No sign of it in the UI. (Please, something.)
6) An "about" page with links to origin web-page & forum, that would be nice, and fairly standard.

Thanks
Click to expand...


The product version is indeed 1.5, but the file version is 1.5.0.35. If you really must confirm which version you have, right-click on the executable and click on "Properties", then click on the "Details" tab of the window that pops up (at the very least, that's how I confirmed it when using the stand-alone version).
 
Localization..

Hi, I don't know if this had been addressed already in a previous post, but here goes nothing:

Localization is good and neat, but it should be up to the user to decide in which language the program is displayed in, or at least keep it to the OS setting.
In my case, I maybe living in Germany but prefer my language setting, including the OS, to be in English (US English to be exact).
The installer even asks what language, but the program then decides for me how and what language is to be used, and that only partially (btw. the easy fix was to rename the content of the "locale" folder).

There is also a display problem, see the attached picture...
 

Attachments

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An Optional not working

I downloaded and installed Anti-Beacon 1.5.0.35. I implemented the optional items but the Office 16 (2016) Telemetry Scheduled Tasks won't implement. I click on the Apply button but nothing happens. The button appears to be unresponsive. All the other optionals have implemented. I have Office 16 installed.
 
https://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?74048-Anti-Beacon-1-6-Available

PepiMK said:
Spybot Anti-Beacon version 1.6 has just been released. Download Now This latest version of Anti-Beacon blocks additional categories of telemetry options in Microsoft that were not detected in earlier versions. Updates: Additional Telemetry Categories Additional Blocked Hosts: ca.telemetry.microsoft.com cache.datamart.windows.com spynet2.microsoft.com … Continue reading →
The post Anti-Beacon 1.6 Available appeared first on Spybot Anti-malware and Antivirus.


More...
Click to expand...
 
spybot anti-beacon is not modifying the hosts file in win 10

Hi there,

Sorry for my bad englisch. Version 1.6 is not modifying my hosts file in windows 10 pro. So there is a connect to MS. I use the program as admin. Disabled a firewall and AV without results. Anyone a suggestion?.
 
Re: spybot anti-beacon is not modifying the hosts file in win 10

berhav

Hi there,

Sorry for my bad englisch. Version 1.6 is not modifying my hosts file in windows 10 pro. So there is a connect to MS. I use the program as admin. Disabled a firewall and AV without results. Anyone a suggestion?.
Click to expand...

Many AV-Programs are locking the hosts-file. They do not necessarily remove the lock, when they are disabled.
 
Spybot telemetry 1.6 doesn't blocked

Let me point out a bug in version 1.6

practically in the protection section the last option — that of schedules task of CEIP
don't get stuck and whenever I start the program it tells me to apply it
While the other sees them correctly

same with optional section with office 2013 and 2016 task schedules

I hope they fixed the problem

thank you in advance

with the 1.5 everything works perfectly
 
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