WinPatrol v10.0.3.0
Publisher: BillP Studios
Category: System Protection Utility
Price: freeware
WinPatrol Plus v10.0.3.0
Publisher: BillP Studios
Category: System Protection Utility
Price: $29.95
WinPatrol is an easy to easy-to-use, powerful program will let you take back some control of what runs on your computer.
The WinPatrol program is freeware. It doesn’t cost you anything. You can download it for free from WinPatrol.com.
WinPatrol Plus has a few more functions than the standard WinPatrol. The real value that I’ve found in WinPatrol Plus is its online database. It has one more function in the program. More importantly, it gives you access to WinPatrol.com’s online database of programs and recommendations. WinPatrol Plus is $29.95, which includes a "lifetime license." I find that the small charge is money well spent. BillP Studios also offers a license option for all of your family’s PCs.
In addition to handling startup programs, WinPatrol lets you control and uninstall "IE Helpers" (also known as "Browser Helper Objects"). These are sometimes-useful extensions to Internet Explorer that add functionality to I.E. Unfortunately, there seem to be a whole lot more adware BHO’s than helpful BHO’s. If you get popups every time you start Internet Explorer, no matter where you go on the Internet, that is a sign of a BHO. Some of them are trojan downloaders – they download programs you haven’t requested onto your computer automatically.
WinPatrol also shows you Scheduled Tasks and lets you remove them. It shows you details of all the "Services" that are part of or added to Windows XP and lets you stop or start them. You can also change whether they start automatically or not. You can control your cookies in IE and Firefox. You can change file assocations, e.g., ".xls files open in Word" can be changed to ".xls files open in OpenOffice." There are several more neat functions in WinPatrol.
WinPatrol is also a system protection utility. WinPatrol operates by scanning every few minutes for changes. If it finds certain changes, e.g. a program that is now set to start automatically, WinPatrol’s Scotty dog (it’s logo, who sits in the Windows Status bar) barks and a window opens to ask you if you want to allow the program to start automatically. It similarly protects the Windows “Hosts” file, Internet Explorer browser helper objects, and other components.
Download and check out WinPatrol. It does not add a large burden to your system and it can help keep your system clean and functioning. I run it on all my computers.
and
Hi I saw your web site an read about the free WinPatrol program. I then went to there web site and saw a cost od 29.99 I did not read any farther. I have downloaded several free program before and yes they were free but if you don’t buy it you get a message every time you turn on your computer an you cannot get rid of the message. So I do not use any program listed in any web site as free and then wants money. I know you don’t care about what I think but I thought I would just vent.
You obviously didn’t read the article, based on your “vent.”
There are two versions – WinPatrol which is absolutely free (and does not have a nag screen) and WinPatrol Plus, which has additional functions and, more importantly, access to their database of programs and recommendations.
You can cut your nose off to spite your face, or you can use it. Your choice.
Terry
i agree its a smashing lil app , latest build has been optimised for windows 7 & firefox 4
Thanks for talking about Winpatrol, I forgot about it when I got Win7 and hadn’t added it to the new OS.
Hve used it for years and it is truly a great program. It has been added to my new computer.
Thanks, it is great as ever.