Restricted Sites Zone in IE SP2

Question

Strange.  I just noticed that a website I used to visit daily is now in the 'Restricted Sites' zone, and when I look at Tools, Internet Options, Security, Restricted Sites, Sites... there is now a long list of sites.  Who put them there?  Is it part of SP2?  (I didn't put them there!)  Are they updated regularly via Windows Update???   Also, strangely, the link to that site in my Favorites folder is now mysteriously missing, as of today.   I am the only person who uses my computer, my computer locks within 10 minutes of inactivity, is password protected, and no one could possibly get into it except me.  Also I have Zonealarm, NAV 2005, XP SP2 with all recent updates.   What is going on here????

ajmi81978 · Answer

One more note.  I know that my computer just completed a Windows Update automated download as of early today.  Could that be what made these changes on my computer?

sgtcasey · Answer

ajmi81978,

I just looked at my IE restricted zone and it's full of web sites as well. I'm guessing it's part of the increased security that came with SP2. What website were you trying to visit? Try removing it from the list of restricted and adding it to the trusted sites list and see if it stays there.

Dave

ajmi81978 · Answer

I'm going to leave it as is since I don't need to visit the site.  In fact, I'm interested to hear that there's harmful content on it, so I will never go there again.  I wonder how it was able to remove the site from my Favorites menu, and whether they're going to keep updating this list.  I hadn't read anything in the news media about this feature.

ajmi81978 · Answer

I just downloaded the latest version of Spybot yesterday and did an immunize and scan.  It had numerous new things on it that it found to immunize and to remove.  I think that is probably what created the restricted sites list, and probably removed the favorites entry also.  I use Adaware also, but it's the free version, not SE, and I haven't run that for a week.

redwolfe_98 · Answer

if you use spybot's 'immunize', that could have added sites to the restricted zone.. or spywareblaster, that could have added sites to the restricted zone, or iespyad, that adds sites to the restricted zone, or some other anti-spyware program, or anti-adware program, could have added sites to the restricted zone..   if you need to remove a site from the restricted zone, it is easy to do.. i don't believe that windows updates would add any websites to the restricted zone..   adaware se can remove some 'bad' links in your list of 'favorites', if it is set to scan your 'favorites'.. adaware se removed one or two 'bad' links that i had in my 'favorites' when i first installed it, and ran a scan.. Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 10-15-2004 08:14 AM

simpswr · Answer

AdAware SE is free also . . wrs

Doogie-224 · Answer

I had Ad-Aware v 6 until 10-14-04, and D/L and installed Ad-Aware personel SE 1.05 free version. It found a lot more dataminer and Alexa files than version 6 had been finding. It must be a better version.  Doogie

ajmi81978 · Answer

I just downloaded and ran SE.  It did find a lot more than the old version, including an old entry in my Favorites file which it listed as harmful and deleted.

Doogie-224 · Answer

I have the Ad-Aware SE 1.05 and the Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3, but I don't have any sites in my restricted sites log. Could this be because I didn't install the TeaTimer part of Spybot? Thanks Doogie

JRosenfeld · Answer

Spywareblaster is another program that puts 'bad' sites into the restricted zone, in case you have that (if not I recommend it). SP2 itself does not put anything in the restricred zone by default.

ajmi81978 · Answer

During installation of Spybot 1.3, SDHelper, the "Internet Explorer Bad Download Blocker", is checked by default. I would think this is what would put entries into Restricted Sites Zone. Did you uncheck that?

Just below that, TeaTimer, the "Protection of Overall System Settings", was not checked by default. I checked it, then later had to uncheck it because the program it put in the Notification Area of Windows XP kept popping up something in regard to my dial up accelerator program, which is definitely not a spyware program.

redwolfe_98 · Answer

i don't use spybot's teatimer or 'sdhelper'.. spybot's 'immunize' is what adds some sites to ie's 'restricted sites'.. i suppose that it also adds some active-x blocking to block some bad things.. you should use spybot's immunize..    http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Windows General

Restricted Sites Zone in IE SP2

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