Watchdog - Set it and Forget it. Feb.07, 2001 I installed the Windows magazine freebie Watchdog on my computer 4 or 5 months ago and then promptly forgot all about it until I was running a script program the other day. Up popped a message box from WatchDog telling me what effect the script could have and asking if I really want to run it. Then I remembered why I had installed the program; at the time there was a scare that some virus or other was being transmitted via Email (Outlook Express being the main target for the virus) and Watchdog would detect such an attack and alert you to it; in effect stopping the attack dead in its tracks. I installed the program because it does not need to be running in the background to work, and I don't like installing programs that are constantly consuming resources. The WatchDog help files says:"WatchDog is a "set it and forget it" application. As long as you associate the file extensions (in the Configure dialog box under the "File Associations" tab) with WatchDog, WatchDog will be run instead of the Windows Scripting Host whenever a script file is launched. WatchDog will check the file and allow you to make the decision as to whether or not it should be run." (1) Here's a sample of some of the warning messages the program will display: 1)WatchDog Warnings: This file is encoded This script is encoded. This hides it's source code from WatchDog and could indicate that it is attempting to hide malicious activities. 2) Read your registry This script can read any portion of your registry. This could expose sensitive information. 3)Delete Files This script can delete files from your system. These files may be critical to the working of certain applications or Windows. You can also activate WatchDog and ask it to check out any script file and allow you to make the decision as to whether or not it should be run. 4)Access Outlook This script can access Microsoft Outlook. Accessing Outlook will give this script the ability to read your address book and mail itself out. "WatchDog does not replace other anti-virus utilities, but rather can be used to complement them. Most anti-virus programs detect viruses via definition files. These files contain the "signatures" of known viruses and must be updated before the anti-virus program can recognize new viruses. Unfortunately, script viruses can be easily modified. There is a period of time when a new script virus appears and when your anti-virus program vendor releases updated virus definitions. During this period of time you are susceptible to the new script virus. However, if you have WatchDog installed, then you will be protected during this time. If any new script virus slips past your anti-virus program and attempts to run, WatchDog will stop it and alert you to what it would do.(2) What more can you ask for; it's free, it doesn't use any of your computers resources and it actually works. Download it from: Watchdog _______________________________________ (2) From Watchdog Help File