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Dell Inspiron B130 freezing up and running slow(er), HJT Log inside

3 min read

This thread's last reply is from . Advice, software, and links below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

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Post #1
Here is my original thread http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?sh…mp;#entry662519

I finally got around to following the directions given. It hasn't been freezing up anymore but I really haven't been doing many online employment applications again either. I have been experiencing alot of "This tab has been recovered" going on. And there seems to be a "You won a free Apple Ipad !" banner/pop up/voice over following me around the web… fairly regular "find old classmates" pop up as well even though my pop up blocker is on. Here is the log from ComboFX:

ComboFix 10-07-23.02 - James Foster 07/24/2010 0:13.2.1 - x86
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600.3.1252.1.1033.18.503.194 [GMT -5:00]
Running from: c:\documents and settings\[removed]\Desktop\ComboFix.exe
.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Other Deletions )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
.

c:\program files\Shared

.
((((((((((((((((((((((((( Files Created from 2010-06-24 to 2010-07-24 )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
.

2010-07-14 17:48 . 2010-06-14 14:31 744448 ——w- c:\windows\system32\dllcache\helpsvc.exe
2010-07-09 23:56 . 2008-04-13 18:45 26112 —-a-w- c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbser.sys
2010-07-09 23:56 . 2008-04-13 18:45 26112 —-a-w- c:\windows\system32\dllcache\usbser.sys
2010-07-09 23:55 . 2008-11-07 23:55 16928 ——w- c:\windows\system32\spmsgXP_2k3.dll
2010-07-09 23:52 . 2010-07-09 23:52 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\James Foster\Application Data\Nokia
2010-07-09 23:52 . 2010-07-09 23:56 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\James Foster\Application Data\PC Suite
2010-07-09 23:52 . 2010-07-09 23:52 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\PC Suite
2010-07-09 23:48 . 2010-07-09 23:46 36406560 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations\{225DB4AA-3CFF-47E8-B3C8-6DAD713E986E}\Nokia_PC_Suite_eng_us_web.exe
2010-07-09 23:48 . 2010-07-09 23:48 95232 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations\{225DB4AA-3CFF-47E8-B3C8-6DAD713E986E}\Installer\CommonCustomActions\pcswpcsi.exe
2010-07-09 23:48 . 2010-07-09 23:48 8192 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations\{225DB4AA-3CFF-47E8-B3C8-6DAD713E986E}\Installer\CommonCustomActions\UninstCCD.exe
2010-07-09 23:48 . 2010-07-09 23:48 61440 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations\{225DB4AA-3CFF-47E8-B3C8-6DAD713E986E}\Installer\CommonCustomActions\UninstPCSFEMsi.exe
2010-07-09 23:48 . 2010-07-09 23:48 10240 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations\{225DB4AA-3CFF-47E8-B3C8-6DAD713E986E}\Installer\CommonCustomActions\UninstPCS.exe
2010-07-09 23:47 . 2010-07-09 23:47 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\Installations

.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Find3M Report ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
.
2010-07-16 13:37 . 2006-10-05 17:13 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\Dl_cats
2010-07-09 23:56 . 2010-07-09 23:56 0 —ha-w- c:\windows\system32\drivers\Msft_Kernel_ccdcmb_01009.Wdf
2010-07-09 23:56 . 2010-07-09 23:56 0 —ha-w- c:\windows\system32\drivers\MsftWdf_Kernel_01009_Coinstaller_Critical.Wdf
2010-07-09 23:52 . 2010-07-09 23:50 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\DIFX
2010-07-09 23:51 . 2010-07-09 23:51 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\Common Files\PCSuite
2010-07-09 23:51 . 2010-07-09 23:51 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\Common Files\Nokia
2010-07-09 23:51 . 2010-07-09 23:49 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\Nokia
2010-07-09 23:50 . 2010-07-09 23:50 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\PC Connectivity Solution
2010-06-30 01:34 . 2006-08-23 03:28 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\James Foster\Application Data\AdobeUM
2010-06-28 21:11 . 2010-04-12 02:53 439816 —-a-w- c:\documents and settings\James Foster\Application Data\Real\Update\setup3.10\setup.exe
2010-06-22 03:19 . 2010-06-22 03:19 388096 —-a-r- c:\documents and settings\James Foster\Application Data\Microsoft\Installer\{45A66726-69BC-466B-A7A4-12FCBA4883D7}\HiJackThis.exe
2010-06-22 03:19 . 2010-06-22 03:19 ——– d—–w- c:\program files\Trend Micro
2010-06-22 02:47 . 2006-12-26 18:57 ——– d—–w- c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\AOL Downloads
2010-06-14 14:31 . 2004-08-10 18:02 744448 —-a-w- c:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\helpsvc.exe
2010-05-06 10:41 . 2004-08-10 17:51 916480 —-a-w- c:\windows\system32\wininet.dll
2010-05-02 05:22 . 2004-08-10 17:51 1851264 —-a-w- c:\windows\system32\win32k.sys
2007-04-23 21:37 . 2006-09-13 22:14 8444 —-a-w- c:\program files\Xpcs Registry.dat
2006-09-13 22:14 . 2006-09-13 22:14 611 —-a-w- c:\program files\Uninstall AIM.lnk
2006-08-01 20:39 . 2006-09-13 22:13 116979 —-a-w- c:\program files\uninstll.exe
2006-08-01 20:36 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1511424 —-a-w- c:\program files\AimRes.dll
2006-08-01 20:35 . 2006-09-13 22:13 67112 —-a-w- c:\program files\aim.exe
2006-08-01 20:28 . 2006-09-13 22:13 131072 —-a-w- c:\program files\ateima32.dll
2006-08-01 20:28 . 2006-09-13 22:13 61440 —-a-w- c:\program files\AlertUI.ocm
2006-08-01 20:28 . 2006-09-13 22:13 25088 —-a-w- c:\program files\browse.ocm
2006-08-01 20:28 . 2006-09-13 22:13 217088 —-a-w- c:\program files\buddyui.ocm
2006-08-01 20:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 233472 —-a-w- c:\program files\AimSecondarySvcs.dll
2006-08-01 20:24 . 2006-09-13 22:13 6656 —-a-w- c:\program files\stats.ocm
2006-08-01 20:24 . 2006-09-13 22:13 98304 —-a-w- c:\program files\ChatUI.ocm
2006-08-01 20:24 . 2006-09-13 22:13 192512 —-a-w- c:\program files\AimCoreSvcs.dll
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 266240 —-a-w- c:\program files\icbmui.ocm
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 94208 —-a-w- c:\program files\ticker.ocm
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 114688 —-a-w- c:\program files\aimapi.dll
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 16384 —-a-w- c:\program files\Admin.ocm
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 151552 —-a-w- c:\program files\locateui.ocm
2006-08-01 20:23 . 2006-09-13 22:13 135168 —-a-w- c:\program files\miscui.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 15360 —-a-w- c:\program files\NTP.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 77824 —-a-w- c:\program files\OscMail.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 19968 —-a-w- c:\program files\aimtalk.dll
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 69632 —-a-w- c:\program files\osclogin.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 9216 —-a-w- c:\program files\oscmain.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 39936 —-a-w- c:\program files\startup.ocm
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 155648 —-a-w- c:\program files\aimauto.exe
2006-08-01 20:22 . 2006-09-13 22:13 86016 —-a-w- c:\program files\OscSrch.ocm
2006-08-01 20:21 . 2006-09-13 22:13 13824 —-a-w- c:\program files\osconfig.ocm
2006-08-01 20:21 . 2006-09-13 22:13 39936 —-a-w- c:\program files\rvapps.ocm
2006-08-01 20:21 . 2006-09-13 22:13 13312 —-a-w- c:\program files\popup.ocm
2006-08-01 20:21 . 2006-09-13 22:13 229376 —-a-w- c:\program files\wndutils.dll
2006-08-01 20:16 . 2006-09-13 22:13 151552 —-a-w- c:\program files\oscarui.dll
2006-08-01 20:16 . 2006-09-13 22:13 192512 —-a-w- c:\program files\oscore.dll
2006-08-01 20:16 . 2006-09-13 22:13 192512 —-a-w- c:\program files\ate32.dll
2006-08-01 20:15 . 2006-09-13 22:13 4608 —-a-w- c:\program files\idlemon.dll
2006-07-31 21:56 . 2006-09-13 22:13 135168 —-a-w- c:\program files\sb.dll
2006-07-25 21:19 . 2006-09-13 22:13 180224 —-a-w- c:\program files\rtvideo.dll
2006-07-25 18:13 . 2006-09-13 22:13 2048 —-a-w- c:\program files\ShareFile.exe
2006-07-25 18:13 . 2006-09-13 22:13 2048 —-a-w- c:\program files\SendFile.exe
2006-07-25 18:03 . 2006-09-13 22:13 229376 —-a-w- c:\program files\inetsocket.dll
2006-07-25 16:57 . 2006-09-13 22:13 34304 —-a-w- c:\program files\proto.ocm
2005-07-11 05:39 . 2006-09-13 22:13 245408 —-a-w- c:\program files\unicows.dll
2005-06-14 20:09 . 2006-09-13 22:13 217088 —-a-w- c:\program files\xprt5.dll
2005-05-26 13:32 . 2006-09-13 22:13 38435 —-a-w- c:\program files\licens32.txt
2005-04-25 14:00 . 2006-09-13 22:13 10218 —-a-w- c:\program files\aim95.CNT
2005-04-25 14:00 . 2006-09-13 22:13 505551 —-a-w- c:\program files\AIM95.HLP
2004-08-27 23:29 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1935 —-a-w- c:\program files\icbmftvc.lst
2004-08-18 18:56 . 2006-09-13 22:13 372736 —-a-w- c:\program files\softokn3.dll
2004-08-18 18:56 . 2006-09-13 22:13 110592 —-a-w- c:\program files\ssl3.dll
2004-08-18 18:56 . 2006-09-13 22:13 106496 —-a-w- c:\program files\smime3.dll
2004-08-18 18:56 . 2006-09-13 22:13 348160 —-a-w- c:\program files\nss3.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 106496 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolpeer.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 3584 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolsos.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 184320 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolbos.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 114688 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolbucky.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 61440 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolhttp.dll
2004-07-22 15:43 . 2006-09-13 22:13 57344 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolsecnss.dll
2004-07-22 15:42 . 2006-09-13 22:13 73728 —-a-w- c:\program files\coolsocket.dll
2004-07-22 15:42 . 2006-09-13 22:13 8192 —-a-w- c:\program files\xptl.dll
2004-07-22 15:41 . 2006-09-13 22:13 13824 —-a-w- c:\program files\xpcs.dll
2004-07-22 15:41 . 2006-09-13 22:13 135168 —-a-w- c:\program files\xprt.dll
2004-05-18 22:55 . 2006-09-13 22:13 81920 —-a-w- c:\program files\xmltok.dll
2004-05-18 22:55 . 2006-09-13 22:13 53248 —-a-w- c:\program files\xmlparse.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 94208 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgtktlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 45056 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgsetlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 65536 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgattlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 61440 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgedtlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 40960 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgs6tlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 40960 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgs2tlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 36864 —-a-w- c:\program files\jga1tlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 32768 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgs7tlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 32768 —-a-w- c:\program files\jgs3tlk.dll
2004-04-16 21:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 45056 —-a-w- c:\program files\jga0tlk.dll
2004-01-09 16:38 . 2006-09-13 22:13 28672 —-a-w- c:\program files\plc4.dll
2004-01-09 16:38 . 2006-09-13 22:13 24576 —-a-w- c:\program files\plds4.dll
2004-01-09 16:38 . 2006-09-13 22:13 159744 —-a-w- c:\program files\nspr4.dll
2003-10-14 22:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 2486 —-a-w- c:\program files\netwait.odl
2003-10-14 22:27 . 2006-09-13 22:13 2670 —-a-w- c:\program files\aim.odl
2003-01-06 21:41 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1457 —-a-w- c:\program files\rvappstm.lst
2002-07-18 16:00 . 2006-09-13 22:13 139264 —-a-w- c:\program files\dunzip32.dll
2001-09-28 22:00 . 2006-09-13 22:13 164864 —-a-w- c:\program files\unwise32.exe
2001-01-30 23:04 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1375 —-a-w- c:\program files\aimalert.gif
2001-01-30 23:03 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1370 —-a-w- c:\program files\stockalert.gif
2000-02-17 00:39 . 2006-09-13 22:13 1732 —-a-w- c:\program files\unwise32.ini
2010-01-06 19:29 . 2006-09-05 00:25 88 –sh–r- c:\windows\system32\192FFBABCD.sys
2008-04-07 22:07 . 2007-01-11 22:54 56 –sh–r- c:\windows\system32\CDABFB2F19.sys
2010-01-06 19:29 . 2006-09-05 00:25 4704 –sha-w- c:\windows\system32\KGyGaAvL.sys
.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Reg Loading Points ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
.
.
*Note* empty entries & legit default entries are not shown
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"ModemOnHold"="c:\program files\NetWaiting\netWaiting.exe" [2003-09-10 20480]
"Aim6"="c:\program files\AIM6\aim6.exe" [2009-05-19 49968]
"DellSupport"="c:\program files\DellSupport\DSAgnt.exe" [2007-03-15 460784]
"DellSupportCenter"="c:\program files\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe" [2009-05-21 206064]
"PC Suite Tray"="c:\program files\Nokia\Nokia PC Suite 7\PCSuite.exe" [2010-05-14 1479680]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"igfxtray"="c:\windows\system32\igfxtray.exe" [2005-10-15 94208]
"igfxhkcmd"="c:\windows\system32\hkcmd.exe" [2005-10-15 77824]
"igfxpers"="c:\windows\system32\igfxpers.exe" [2005-10-15 114688]
"SynTPEnh"="c:\program files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe" [2006-03-08 761947]
"IntelWireless"="c:\program files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe" [2004-10-30 385024]
"SigmatelSysTrayApp"="stsystra.exe" [2006-03-25 282624]
"Dell QuickSet"="c:\program files\Dell\QuickSet\quickset.exe" [2006-04-06 1032192]
"DVDLauncher"="c:\program files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\DVDLauncher.exe" [2005-02-23 53248]
"ISUSPM Startup"="c:\program files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" [2005-06-10 249856]
"ISUSScheduler"="c:\program files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" [2005-06-10 81920]
"HostManager"="c:\program files\Common Files\AOL\1156644074\ee\AOLHostManager.exe" [2005-08-02 159832]
"dla"="c:\windows\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe" [2005-05-31 122941]
"DLCFCATS"="c:\windows\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\DLCFtime.dll" [2005-09-08 73728]
"QuickTime Task"="c:\program files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" [2008-03-29 413696]
"MSKDetectorExe"="c:\program files\McAfee\SpamKiller\MSKDetct.exe" [2005-08-12 1121792]
"dscactivate"="c:\program files\Dell Support Center\gs_agent\custom\dsca.exe" [2007-11-15 16384]
"DellSupportCenter"="c:\program files\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe" [2009-05-21 206064]
"iTunesHelper"="c:\program files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" [2008-03-30 267048]
"Google Desktop Search"="c:\program files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" [2006-08-15 169984]
"SunJavaUpdateSched"="c:\program files\Java\jre1.5.0_12\bin\jusched.exe" [2007-05-02 75520]
"TkBellExe"="c:\program files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" [2009-10-19 198160]

c:\documents and settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
Digital Line Detect.lnk - c:\program files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe [2006-8-14 24576]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\winlogon\notify\IntelWireless]
2004-09-07 21:08 110592 —-a-w- c:\program files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\LgNotify.dll

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\Wdf01000.sys]
@="Driver"

[HKLM\~\services\sharedaccess\parameters\firewallpolicy\standardprofile\AuthorizedApplications\List]
"%windir%\\system32\\sessmgr.exe"=
"c:\\Program Files\\Bonjour\\mDNSResponder.exe"=
"c:\\Program Files\\iTunes\\iTunes.exe"=
"%windir%\\Network Diagnostic\\xpnetdiag.exe"=
"c:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\AOL\\Loader\\aolload.exe"=
"c:\\Program Files\\AIM6\\aim6.exe"=

R2 Viewpoint Manager Service;Viewpoint Manager Service;c:\program files\Viewpoint\Common\ViewpointService.exe [10/28/2007 10:07 PM 24652]
.
Contents of the 'Scheduled Tasks' folder

2010-07-19 c:\windows\Tasks\AppleSoftwareUpdate.job
- c:\program files\Apple Software Update\SoftwareUpdate.exe [2008-04-11 22:57]
.
.
——- Supplementary Scan ——-
.
uSearchMigratedDefaultURL = hxxp://www.google.com/search?q={searchTerms}&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=utf8&oe=utf8
uInternet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
uSearchURL,(Default) = hxxp://www.google.com/search?q=%s
IE: &AIM Toolbar Search - c:\documents and settings\All Users\Application Data\AIM Toolbar\ieToolbar\resources\en-US\local\search.html
IE: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - c:\progra~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
.

**************************************************************************

catchme 0.3.1398 W2K/XP/Vista - rootkit/stealth malware detector by Gmer, http://www.gmer.net
Rootkit scan 2010-07-24 00:19
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 NTFS

scanning hidden processes …

scanning hidden autostart entries …

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
DLCFCATS = rundll32 c:\windows\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\DLCFtime.dll,_RunDLLEntry@16???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

scanning hidden files …

scan completed successfully
hidden files: 0

**************************************************************************
.
——————— DLLs Loaded Under Running Processes ———————

- - - - - - - > 'winlogon.exe'(932)
c:\program files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\LgNotify.dll

- - - - - - - > 'explorer.exe'(3156)
c:\windows\system32\WININET.dll
c:\windows\system32\ieframe.dll
c:\windows\system32\webcheck.dll
.
Completion time: 2010-07-24 00:22:04
ComboFix-quarantined-files.txt 2010-07-24 05:22
ComboFix2.txt 2010-07-24 00:21

Pre-Run: 40,255,852,544 bytes free
Post-Run: 40,243,134,464 bytes free

- - End Of File - - 3C2BF6F800851063774C96952232E0BA
Post #2
1.Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2.Next, open Add/Remove Programs and remove if listed:
Viewpoint


Reboot
Also please describe how your computer behaves at the moment.
Post #5
Alright, I removed it. I also noticed one below it called WildTangent Web Driver I guess thats normal?

Comp seems to be running better, no classmates banners everywhere. Thanks
Post #6
If you're happy, I'm happy :thumbup:

Good job :thumbup:

The following will implement some cleanup procedures as well as reset System Restore points:

  • Click START run
  • Now type ComboFix /Uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the U, it needs to be there.



To be on the safe side, I would also change all my passwords.



Here's my usual all clean post

Log looks good :D


  • Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
    1. From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
    2. Click once on the Security tab
    3. Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
    4. Click once on the Custom Level button.
    5. Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
    6. Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
    7. Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
    8. Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
    9. Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
    10. Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
    11. When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
    12. 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.
  • Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperative that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week
    (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.

  • Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer.
    Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over.
    I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients.
    Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.

  • Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly.
    This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer.
    If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site
    until there are no more critical updates.

  • Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly.
    Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.

Only run one Anti-Virus and Firewall program.


I would suggest you read How to Prevent Malware:

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