Internet Explorer is installed with Windows, you cannot uninstall it.
Even if you use another browser, Microsoft uses parts of IE for updates of MS products.
So it is a security risk, if IE is not up-to-date.
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It Appears That Your Pc Is Now Clean!
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Clean up:
We used Combofix.
Press the Windows key + R and this will open the Run text box. Copy/paste the following text into the Run box as shown and click OK.
Combofix /Uninstall
(Note: There is a space between the ..x and the /U that needs to be there.)
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Right-click AdwCleaner.exe and select Run As Administrator.
- Click on the Uninstall button.
- A window will open, press the Confirm button.
- AdwCleaner will uninstall now.
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Run OTL.exe
- Copy/paste the following text written inside of the code box into the Custom Scans/Fixes box located at the bottom of OTL
:OTL :Commands [emptytemp] [clearallrestorepoints]
- Close all other programs apart from OTL as this step may require a reboot
- Then click the Run Fix button at the top
- Let the program run unhindered.
- Say Yes to the prompt and then allow the program to reboot your computer.
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Clean up with delfix:
- please download delfix to your desktop.
- Close all other programms and start delfix.
- Please check all the boxes and run the tool.
- delfix will now delete all found traces of our removal process
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Delete the log files our tools created; they are located at your desktop or at the
"c:\users\{.......}\Downloads" folder.
Highlight them, and press the del or delete key on the keyboard.
You can browse to the location of the file or folder using either My Computer or Windows Explorer.
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Here are some Preventive tips to reduce the potential for spyware infection in the future:
1. Browse more secure
- WOT - Know which websites to trust
Web of Trust - this free browser add on warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam.
- Open Internet Explorer
- Click on Tools > Internet Options
- Press Security tab
- Select Internet zone then place check next to Enable Protected Mode if not already done
- Do the same for Local Intranet, Trusted Sites and Restricted Sites and then press Apply
- Restart Internet Explorer and in the bottom right corner of your screen you will see Protected Mode: On showing you it is enabled.
- Windows XP users can visit Windows update regularly to download and install any critical updates and service packs.
- Windows Vista / 7 users can update via
Start menu > All Programs > Windows Update > Check for Updates (in left hand task pane).
- If you think you're using a "safe" P2P program, only the program is safe, not the data.
- You will share files from unsafe sources, and these may be infected.
- Some bad guys use P2P filesharing as an important chanel to spread their wares.
6. Firewall
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.
7. Backup regularly
You never know when your PC will become unstable or become so infected that you can't recover it.
8. Use Strong passwords!
9. Email attachments
Do not open any unknown email attachments, which you received without asking for it!
Extra note:
Keep your Browser, Java, pdf Reader and Adobe Flash Up to Date.
Make sure your programs are up to date - because older versions may contain Security Leaks.
To find out what programs need to be updated, please run the Secunia Software Inspector Scan. http://secunia.com/software_inspector/
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