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LSP (Layered Service Provider)

An LSP is specialized code that acts as a link in the communication chain between your computer and the internet. When software (such as an anti-virus program) that created an LSP is improperly removed, or LSP code is corrupted, the LSP communication chain is broken and internet or network connectivity is lost. Removing the corrupted or unnecessary LSP can then restore internet access.

The use of an LSP (so to see internet traffic) is a tactic of some spyware or adware - but realize that some LSP's are part of your Windows Operating System (for example mswsock.dll or rsvpsp.dll), so make sure you thoroughly research any LSP items you want to delete.

Browser Sentinel is a fully functional free trial which can repair LSP problems - select to view only non-system LSP's in the display, thus you can see clearly the LSP's that were installed by other software.  Also, in Windows Defender, you can use the Software Explorer to view installed LSP's.

Good luck and good computing.

Browser Sentinel (Free Trial) - excellent for addressing broken LSP's, also provides info on installed BHO's plus options to disable or for a clean BHO removal (removes the registry entry, the file, and unregisters the DLL module). Also addresses ActiveX, Pages, Search Strings, Prefixes, Toolbars, Loaded Modules, Startup and Running Programs, Hosts file, common misconfigurations, NT Drivers, and more.

INFORMATION: Bowser Sentinel Users Manual info on LSP's

LSP-Fix - popular tool to fix broken LSP's, read help info first

Windows Defender - this Microsoft anti-spyware product also has a handy Software Explorer you can use to view LSP's. In Windows Defender go to Tools -> Software Explorer -> click the 'category' drop-down menu and select Winsock Service Providers (another name for LSP), the display groups the LSP's by publisher and provides additional details.

Winsock XP Fix

LSP Explorer - an add-on for Ad-Aware

XP TCP/IP Repair - resets Winsock Registry Entries, will remove all previously installed LSP's, can also repair TCP/IP stack