[Resolved] at least 1 trojan

Hi wilma1313, I think you have he settings correct. I've seen cases where a reboot without a message can happen that are dust related. I've had it with dust buldup on the CPU heat sink. Has the inside of this machine ever been cleaned out?

never and I have 2 cats and alot of dust….

Hi wilma1313, That may explain the problem you are having. If you are not comfortable poking around inside the computer as some disassembly may be required to properly clean the heat sinks, I suggest you take it to a computer shop and have them do it. If you want to do it youself, I can refer you to our Tech forum. They should be able to quide you to the key areas to clean. Let me know and we'll clean up the tools after I hear back from you. Thanks

I should be able to clean if it doesn't require much in the way of tools. I cleaned off the vents and did get the GMER scan to run to the end, unfortunately saving the file caused it to crash so no good. 15 minutes in I got an error messge that said HP boot optimizer encountered a problem and needs to close. Sorry for the inconvenience. The scan still ran all they way thru after - which was the first time it didn't restart the puter. Let me know what to do next. Is it ok to do my regular spybot and malwarebytes scans now?

Hi wilma313,

Is it ok to do my regular spybot and malwarebytes scans now?

Yes go ahead,post the MBAM log if anything is found.

We'll then see about getting you over to the Tech forum. Usually all you need is a screwdriver.

Scans are good. Ready for cleanup/tech help.

Hi wilma1313,

When you post in the Tech forum, please include a link to this thread so they can see what we have done. This LINK will take you to the General HardWare forum.


Your java is out of date. You can update yours by

Click your start button, open Control panel.

• Locate the Java icon (it looks like a coffee cup)
• double click it to open it
• click the Update tab
• Click update now

After the java is updated, reboot your computer if not prompted to.



Download TFC to your desktop

• Close any open windows.
• Double click the TFC icon to run the program
• TFC will close all open programs itself in order to run,
• Click the Start button to begin the process.
• Allow TFC to run uninterrupted.
• The program should not take long to finish it's job
• Once its finished it should automatically reboot your machine,
• if it doesn't, manually reboot to ensure a complete clean

From your desktop, please delete, if present

• any notepads/logs that we created
• GMER.zip
• GMER.exe
• DDS.scr
• TFC.exe

* Create a new restore point

You must be logged on to an administrator account

• Go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore.
• Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.
• In the text box labeled Restore Point Description, type a name for this restore point
• click create

* Remove old restore points

• Go to Start - All Programs - Accessories - system tools.
• Launch the Disk Cleanup tool and let it run.
• When it finishes a box with tabs will appear, select the more options tab.
• On this tab you will find a section for System Restore.
• If you press the Clean Up button for that section, Windows will delete all restore points except for the most recent one.

Updates

You have an older version of Adobe Reader. You can download the current version HERE

You may want to consider Foxit Reader instead. It may be a bit lighter on resources.

Visit their support forum
Foxit Forum

In either case you should uninstall Adobe Reader 7.0.5 first. Be sure to move any PDF documents to another folder first though.



Some Recommendations and prevention tips

Basic security consists of 1 antivirus program, 1 resident antispyware program, 1 on demand antispyware program and a firewall. You have those if you have SpyBpt's Teatimer feature tured on.


You should also use Spyware Blaster to help immunize your computer.

- SpywareBlaster will add a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer
settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.

OR

A guide to understanding and using the hosts file.

Learn how your Hosts file can protect you and how you can protect it.
Besides the Hosts file information, there are links to a very good updated hosts file, a host file manager. and some programs that can protect your hosts file.
HOSTS

Please read the info on disabling the DNS Client before installing a custom hosts file.


-Secure your Internet Explorer

From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.

• Click once on the Security tab
• Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
• Click once on the Custom Level button.
• Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
• Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
• Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
• Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
• Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
• Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
• When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
• If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.

Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.


- Keeping your Windows up-to-date is crucial to your computer's security. Please go to the Windows Update Site (using Internet Explorer) and download and install all critical updates on a regular basis.


- Ensure that Automatic Update is turned on so you get all the latest patches.
Click start, control panel, click Security Center.


- Keep your antivirus program updated, as well as any other security programs you have.


-Check this site out to check for out of date programs
Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI) 1.0


-More tips and programs can be found HERE


- You may also want to read this article By Tony Klein
http://www.freedomlist.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22879

We will keep this thread open for a couple of days. Please post back if you have any problems or questions. Please post back when you have finished so this thread can be marked "Resolved".

Take care

The java icon has disappeared from my desktop and is not in my programs list….. how do I update it. Its always been on the desktop, not sure why its not anymore.

Hi wilma1313,

Let's check a couple of things.

Click start > Control Panel. Make sure you are using the Classic View. If not, the option to change to Classic View can be found in the upper left hand panel.

See if you can locate the Java Console and follow the previous instructions for updating the java.

If you are unable to locate the Java Console, please continue.

Open Add/Remove programs and check to see which version of Java is currently installed. If it's less than Java™ 6 Update 18, please uninstall it.

To get the newest version follow these instructions:

• Go to http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
• Scroll down to "Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 18
• Click the download button on the right.

If Information Bar pop-ups up, right-click on it and say it's OK to display the blocked content.

• Select the platform (Windows, in your case), mutli language.
• Accept the license agreement, click continue.

You do not have to install the Java Web Start ActiveX Control

• Scroll down and click on Windows Offline Installation,
• Save the file jre-6u18-windows-i586-p.exe to your desktop;

Do not select Run . Do not install it yet.

When the download is complete, close your browser.

• Double-click on the saved file ( jre-6u18-windows-i586-p.exe) to install the update.
• Delete the downloaded installation file after completing the above procedure and reboot if not prompted to do so.

Since this issue appears to be resolved … this Topic has been closed. Glad we could be of assistance. If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread. Everyone else please begin a New Topic.