The SpyBot "IE tweaks" tool is another handy tool to have. Not only does it allow you to customize your Internet Explorer title bar but it also adds another level of protection to your system. Since it is accessed from the "Tools" menu, SpyBot must be running in "Advanced Mode" before you can use it. I have become a bit indolent, and as accessing SpyBot's "Advanced Mode" has already been covered in the Hosts File Tool and the System Startup Tool articles, please read the first part of one of these before going any further.
Pictured to the right is the "Tools" menu indicating the "IE tweaks" selection. If this selection isn't available on your menu, then you need to make sure that it has been selected on the tools list in the center portion of the SpyBot window. As shown below, place a check mark in the box next to "IE tweaks".
Once "IE tweaks" has been enabled and you select it on the "Tools" menu, you should see something similar to the screen shot below. This view has been cropped to conserve space and shows only the central portion of the SpyBot window dealing with the IE tweaks tool.
The section of this view, labeled "Miscellaneous Locks" and indicated by the green arrow, provides the extra layer of security mentioned earlier.
The top selection when checked sets the attributes of the "host file" to "read only". When a file has been set to "read only", it can't be modified. If you have read The Host File, you know that the host file is typically used to block unwanted sites or ad banners. This file can, however, be used against you by malware by mapping your commonly visited sites with the IP address of a malicious site. Bad news to say the least, but with the host file locked in "read only" this is prevented. You will have to remember to unlock the host file when you wish to make your own changes.
The second item in this section prevents changing your browsers homepage. Malware and office pranksters are known to change homepages, which in the case of malware can send you to a page that downloads more malicious software to your computer. While not a sure fire cure, selecting this feature should slow them down. Although not as big a contribution as the first item, this feature does add to the overall security of your system.
The third item is also of limited benefit to security and adds to the inconvenience of running Internet Explorer with the "Internet Zone" security set on "High". This feature prevents accessing "Internet Options" from Internet Explorer's "Tools" menu. This makes it harder to place sites into the "Trusted Zone".
Update 09/27/2008 - The two Internet Explorer locks are not present in SpyBot Search & Destroy 1.6
The bottom section of this SpyBot window provides the means for customizing the title bar of Internet Explorer.
On the right is the standard title bar found on Internet Explorer. The "Cannot find server" message seen here resulted from opening Internet Explorer while Internet access was not available, this message usually relates information about the site you are visiting.
Just type whatever you like into the text box labeled "Current user" and click the "Apply" button, which is not shown here but is located at the end of the text box.
The next time you open Internet Explorer, you will see your handy work in the title bar. Changes to the title bar are made the same way and if you notice, the standard title is replaced altogether. If you only remove your customization "Microsoft Internet Explorer" will not return to the title bar unless you put it back.
Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Windows, Windows XP and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names have been included in the above text that are trademarks of the respective companies.
