Support and FAQ

Why did we develop SpyFBI?

The original intent of writing SpyFBI was as a preventative measure for controlling the installation of unwanted software on a computer and keeping private information private. What we found was that most users were more impressed with their computer's performance gain from installing SpyFBI than from any other feature.
Tens of thousands of "temporary" files are usually residing on every computer and they keep building as the computer is used. The system has to sift through this mountain of files constantly as it looks for the files it is currently using. Many of these files are not harmful by themselves but in groups of thousands, they can kill a computer's performance. Mixed in with these thousands of files there are often some very noxious files being used to track what you do or steal your information. SpyFBI removes these files allowing the computer to spend more time processing your stuff and less time dealing with these problems.

Why should I shut down my computer at night?

Lets look at your computer like your car for a minute. Why do you shut down your car at night? Fuel costs are a big factor, but for this example, lets say fuel cost is not an issue.

1) A running car is an easy target for theft. A running computer (with "always on" internet access) is also an easy target for hackers and identity thieves. You may have a firewall and you feel confident that you are safe. OK, you locked your car doors so your car is safe, right? Have you seen the number of security updates released for Windows? For an experienced hacker, a software firewall is a hindrance, not a problem. If the computer is off (your car is turned off and in the garage every night) your chances of theft are dramatically reduced.

2) Your car could overheat, a belt could break, or problem arise and more damage could occur because of it. A computer also has parts that can fail. In reality, a hard drive is only going to run for a certain amount of time in its life. Same as a fan or any other type of hardware. Do you really want to waste 80% of that running life idle, waiting for you come return? The time a computer spends running can realistically be compared to a car's mileage. Lower mileage is always desirable.

3) Some people claim that there is a "power surge" that can harm your computer when you first turn it on. It is unbelievable that an experienced tech could believe this. If you want to call changing the voltage from zero volts to 110 volts a surge, then there is a surge. In newer computers (since the mid 1990's), the power supply never completely turns off. It shuts off the main power to the motherboard, but always supplies power to a starting circuit on the mother board so the computer can be turned back on. This coupled with the logical power supplies used in computers make this claim totally unfounded.

4) What if your computer has a problem and does not turn on after being shut down? This is much more likely to happen if you leave it running constantly. By shutting down and restarting your computer on a regular basis, most problems that will cause a no-start condition will appear as glitches that can be remedied before they worsen to the point of not allowing your computer start. When the computer which runs constantly encounters a no-start condition, there is usually more damage and is more difficult (and expensive) to repair than one that has been shutdown on a regular basis.

5) Some of the work SpyFBI does must be done during start-up and cannot be done after the startup is complete. This is very critical because this is the time when the Index.dat files are purged. If you do not know why this is so important, please read the SpyFBI documentation or ask your computer tech.

Ultimately, it is your decision. It is your data and your repair nickel. Is it worth waiting a minute for your computer to boot?

Use the links below to View other SpyFBI Documentation.

SpyFBI Overview

For Best Results

SpyFBI Configuration

End User License Agreement

Warnings