Protocols (Asynchronous Pluggable Protocols)

This tab displays protocols installed on your system.

What's A Protocol?

An asynchronous pluggable protocols can be used to handle a custom Uniform Resource Locator (URL) protocol scheme, filter data for a designated MIME type or intercept requests transmitted over existing protocols (e.g. http, https, ftp). Sophisticated malware can use this technique to watch your Internet activity.


Location

Protocols are stored in the registry under the following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS

The Disable Action

The disable action moves the protocol entries from the key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS to a temporary location.

You may need to reboot Windows for the action to take effect.

The Delete Action

The delete action (depending on the selected options):

  • Deletes the protocol entries from the key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS, deletes the protocol CLSID from the key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \CLSID;
  • Deletes the protocol file;
  • Unregisters the protocol file (DLL module).

You may need to reboot Windows for the action to take effect.

Properties


Name The name of the protocol registry entry.
CLSID Class identifier (globally unique identifier - GUID) associated with the protocol OLE class.
Description The description of protocol retrieved from its file resources and the registry.
Scheme The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) scheme that the protocol affects.
Type The type of the asynchronous pluggable protocol:
  • Protocol Handler - handles requests for a custom Uniform Resource Locator (URL) protocol scheme;
  • Namespace Handler - handles requests for existing or custom protocol schemes;
  • MIME Filter - filters data for a designated MIME type.
Publisher The developer (a company or a person) of the protocol.
Program ID Programmatic identifier - human-readable identifier of the protocol OLE class.
File A full path to the protocol file.
File Version File version information. The information is retrieved from the file resources. Also includes product version information if it differs from the file version.
File Size File size in bytes.
File CRC32 Cyclic Redundancy Checksum (Check) of the file.
File MD5 Message Digest 5 of the file.
File Creation Date The date the file was created.
Location The location (registry or a folder) of the item.
Safe Indicates whether the item in a safe or in a blocked list. Yes - item is in a safe list. No - item is in a blocked list. N/A - items is not in a safe nor in a blocked list.
Status Indicates whether the item is enabled or disabled.
System Indicates whether the item is a system item, i.e. originally shipped with Windows.
WARNING: Browser Sentinel does not always correctly differentiate third-party items and system items, use this property with care!

More Information


About Asynchronous Pluggable Protocols