I have been using SPYBOT S&D for about 6 months and have just recently started using some of the advanced features. When I first installed I passed on Tea-Timer since I am an American and don't brew any tea let alone time it. But now I'm thinking I should investigate--what does it do? --Any ideas?

It took me ages to find "Tea Timer".Here's how you find it.
Open Spybot.
Open Help Menu
Click;Help
Click;Contents
Click;Tools
Click;Resident
Click;TeaTimer
And make one for me please.
Good clicking.

Too bad they didn't call it coffee timer, LOL.

Teatimer runs in the background and monitors your computer's call processes and detects malicious ones that start, allowing you to kill the process if you wish. It also detects when an application's important registry keys are about to be changed, with the same options. The best analogy is that it is a malware firewall.

Cheers,
John

This is how to get to the "Tea Timer"

Open Spybot >

On the right hand side click on > Tools

Check the box of > Resident


For those looking in. Who are considering installing Spybot for the first time.

There is an option to choose Tea Timer during installation.

Yes, an excellent analogy.

I have it running as one of a few resident processes optionally included at startup.
Since I download a lot, primarily applications to try...
sometimes activeX downloads to check for malware...
I find it's a very good thing to have,
since spybot has presently 25, 607 signatures in it's database.
When I first started using Spybot S&D, before the Tea Timer was available, it had around 10,000.

I really gives a user control.

For instance, my Lexmark multi-peripheral unit.
Likes to call home a lot.
Borderline spyware bundled in to it, really.
So, I get alerts when it wants too.

I observe trends,
then either kill that process (rather render it useless)
with Spybot's startup list
or deny it access with Sygate's firewall.

If I find that I might want it, for some reason...
perhaps when in the future I want to print on a remote printer or something,
then I can
remember it's in cryogenic state and restore it temporarily -
to remedy some problem using extra features of the printer/scanner/copier/fax machine, perhaps.

It doesn't need daily access to Lexmark USA HQ. IMO.

I do the same with several services in winXP.
Instead of automatically starting up and being on ALERT,
I set them to manual.
That way, they perk up only when needed.

Several others I disable.

Auto updates require quite a lot of system resources to use
when there a a dozen of 'em.
Lottsa .exe's in running processes listed in the task manager prove that.

I take responsibility for updating.
My PC runs faster daily when I do.

If EdBee dosn't know now what Tea Timer is all about he/she never will.
By the way i am still waiting for my cup of Rosy (Cockney Slang;Rosy Lee/Tea)

Hmm... The plot thickens.
People! we aren't on the same page

Phillip,
I followed your procedure. But see no way to install tea timer. It just instructions, not that it hurts to read them. No tea till I get an answer

What version do you have Scarlett?
I have no Tools, nor Resident buttons/menu items. My version is 1.3. My glasses are OK, and I can read too.

I go in via the Immunize button. Whereupon it said 'you already have Spyware blaster which will give you more control over ActiveX...'. I allowed it to immunize, because some other wording seems to mean continuous watch. Then it said that I now have 2332 bad things blocked, up from 2314, whatever that may mean. Am I on the right path? There should be TOOLS button someplace because the instructions about Immunize say "You can view a log of blocked installers in the Tools / Resident section.". This is confusing. Have I done harm? Have I installed something I shouldn't?

Open Spybot v1.3 / click Mode(top left) / click Advanced Mode / click Tools(on the left) / click Resident /
Put a check mark in both boxes.
Close Spybot

Sorry EdBee.I had not realised you wanted to install "Tea Timer".I thought you just wanted to find out what it did.
TQ has posted the answer.
Apologies again.
Philip.






//Mod edit: to correct Nick....

//Mod edit: to protect the innocent from my error - Koan

I too must apoligize. I forgot that my Spybot was in Advanced Mode. So sorry.