SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.
How? By setting a "kill bit" for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the installation of any of them from a webpage. You can run Internet Explorer with Active-X enabled, but you will never even get a "Yes/No" box popped up, asking you to install a spyware Active-X control (Internet Explorer will never download or run it!). All other Active-X controls or plug-ins will work fine.
The SpywareBlaster database contains information on these known spyware Active-X controls. Make sure you run the Check For Updates feature frequently to get the latest database! (And make sure you check the new items to protect your system against them!)
As a side benefit, setting this "kill bit" will also prevent the spyware Active-X from running, in many cases, if it is already installed on your system.
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Infomation on the "kill bit":
For every Active X control, there is a unique CLSID. That CLSID number identifies only that Active X control - no others.
Under this section, you will find keys whose names are various Active X CLSIDs.
In each key is a DWORD value named "Compatibility Flags" - when set to a decimal equivalent of "1024", it prevents the Active X control with that CLSID from installing or even running (no Yes/No box, no worries).
SpywareBlaster creates a registry key corresponding to each spyware Active X control's CLSID, creates the DWORD value, and sets it to 1024 (decimal), thus providing the protection. New spyware Active X control CLSIDs will be added to the database as soon as they come out so you can also disable the possibility of those installing.
