Fake Windows Popup Bubble

Welcome PaulAitken to TomCoyote Forums!

You are running HijackThis from the Desktop.
Please create a new folder for it and move the program into the new folder.

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Please read these instructions carefully. You may want to print them. Copy the text to a Notepad file and save it to your desktop! We will need the file later.
Be sure to follow ALL instructions!

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Please download noahdfear's smitRem.exe©. Save the file to your desktop. Double click on the file to extract it to it's own folder on the desktop.

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Launch ewido, there should be an icon on your desktop double-click it.

The program will now go to the main screen
You will need to update ewido to the latest definition files.On the left hand side of the main screen click update
Click on Start
The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
Once the updates are installed, close Ewido for now.

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Update AdAware SE 1.06 to the latest definitions.

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Next, please reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.

For additional help in booting into Safe Mode, see the following site:
http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

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Open HijackThis
Place a check against each of the following, making sure you get them all and not any others by mistake:

O16 - DPF: {15AD6789-CDB4-47E1-A9DA-992EE8E6BAD6} - http://static.windupdates.com/cab/CDT/ie/bridge-c18.cab

Close all programs leaving only HijackThis running.
Click on Fix Checked when finished and exit HijackThis.

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Open the smitRem folder, then double click the RunThis.bat file to start the tool. Follow the prompts on screen.
Wait for the tool to complete and disk cleanup to finish.
The tool will create a log named smitfiles.txt in the root of your drive, eg; Local Disk C: or partition where your operating system is installed.
Post me the contents of the smitfiles.txt log as you post back.

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Open Ad-aware and do a full scan. Remove all it finds.

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Now open Ewido Security Suite:* Click on scanner
* Click Complete System Scan and the scan will begin.
* During the scan it will prompt you to clean files, click OK
* When the scan is finished, look at the bottom of the screen and click the Save report button.
* Save the report to your desktop
Reboot your computer.

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Next go to Control Panel click Display > Desktop > Customize Desktop > Web > Uncheck "Security Info" if present.

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Reboot back into Windows

Post back to this topic with a new HijackThis Log, the contents of smitfiles.txt and the Ewido Log by using Add Reply.

Fix this line in HijackThis: O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - (no file) The logs look clean to me. Is the computer running ok? If so, shall I post you some tips for the future and close this topic?

Thanks
I removed the entry, and everything seems to be running fine so far.

The only thing is in the program 'SpywareGuard', which I have recently installed, I still get popups saying
"NEW BHO DETECTION ALERT
On 17:55:15 12/08/2005 a new BHO installation attempt was detected.
BHO: {B56A7D7D-6927-48C8-A975-17DF180C71AC}
ProgramID: n/a
File Location: C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~3\tools\iesdpb.dll
User Action Taken: REMOVE BHO"

with various different values, of course.

Is this of concern?

This one belongs to Spyware Doctor. I see you use that program, you can allow the change.

Noted. Thanks g2i2r4. Everything appears to be quite normal. My homepage is back to normal, and I haven't had any bubbles or virus alert. Your help was very appreciated! Steve

Please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

• Disable and Enable System Restore. - If you are using Windows ME or XP then you should disable and re-enable system restore to make sure there are no infected files found in a restore point.
  
  You can find instructions on how to enable and re-enable system restore here:
  
  Managing Windows Millenium System Restore
  
  or
  
  Windows XP System Restore Guide
  
  Re-enable system restore with the instructions from the tutorial above
  
  
• Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
  • 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.
• Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.
  
  See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
  
  Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
  
  
• Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive 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.
  
  For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
  
  Understanding and Using Firewalls
  
  
• Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer always has 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.
  
  
• Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Install and download Spybot - Search and Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & Hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with this program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers
  
  
• Install Ad-Aware – Download and install Ad-Aware. You should also scan your computer with this program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from your Computer
  
  
• Install SpywareBlaster - 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.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
  
  
• 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.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

You may want to check this fine article by Tony Klein: How did I get infected in the first place?