McAfee MIS09EMB3RAA User Guide - Page 54

52 McAfee Internet Security Using SystemGuards options SystemGuards monitor, log, report, and manage potentially unauthorized changes made to the Windows registry or critical system files on your computer. Unauthorized registry and file changes can harm your computer, compromise its security, and damage valuable system files. Registry and files changes are common and occur regularly on your computer. Because many are harmless, SystemGuards' default settings are configured to provide reliable, intelligent, and real-world protection against unauthorized changes that pose significant potential for harm. For example, when SystemGuards detect changes that are uncommon and present a potentially significant threat, the activity is immediately reported and logged. Changes that are more common, but still pose some potential for damage, are logged only. However, monitoring for standard and low-risk changes is, by default, disabled. SystemGuards technology can be configured to extend its protection to any environment you like. There are three types of SystemGuards: Program SystemGuards, Windows SystemGuards, and Browser SystemGuards. Program SystemGuards Program SystemGuards detect potentially unauthorized changes to your computer's registry and other critical files that are essential to Windows. These important registry items and files include ActiveX installations, startup items, Windows shell execute hooks, and shell service object delay loads. By monitoring these, Program SystemGuards technology stops suspect ActiveX programs (downloaded from the Internet) in addition to spyware and potentially unwanted programs that can automatically launch when Windows starts. Windows SystemGuards Windows SystemGuards also detect potentially unauthorized changes to your computer's registry and other critical files that are essential to Windows. These important registry items and files include context menu handlers, appInit DLLs, and the Windows hosts file. By monitoring these, Windows SystemGuards technology helps prevent your computer from sending and receiving unauthorized or personal information over the Internet. It also helps stop suspect programs that can bring unwanted changes to the appearance and behavior of the programs that are important to you and your family. Browser SystemGuards