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Are you still noticing any problems?, because it appears your system is all clean. If not, it's time to secure your system to prevent against further intrusions.
THESE STEPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT
Update your Java.
Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can and are using to infect systems.
Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components.
- Close any programmes you may have running, ESPECIALLY your web browser
- Click Start > Control Panel.
- Click Add/Remove Programs.
- Check any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in the name.
- Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
- Repeat as many times as necessary to remove all versions of Java.
- Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
Lets reset system restore
Reset and Re-enable your System Restore to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected. Please note you need Administrator Access to clean the restore points.
- Turn off System Restore.
- On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
- Click Properties.
- Click the System Restore tab.
- Check Turn off System Restore.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
- Reboot.
- Turn ON System Restore.
- On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
- Click Properties.
- Click the System Restore tab.
- UN-Check *Turn off System Restore*.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
- NOTE: only do this ONCE, NOTon a regular basis
To do so, please follow the steps below:
- Double-click My Computer.
- Click the Tools menu, and then click Folder Options.
- Click the View tab.
- Put a check by "Hide file extensions for known file types."
- Under the "Hidden files" folder, select "Do not show hidden files and folders."
- Check "Hide protected operating system files."
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
Updating Windows and Internet Explorer
IMPORTANT: You need to update Windows and Internet Explorer to protect your computer from the malware that is around on the Internet. Please go to the windows update site to get the critical updates.
If you're running Microsoft Office, or any portion thereof, go to Microsoft's Office Update site and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed. (Free at Microsoft Office Update).
Make your Internet Explorer more secure
- From within Internet Explorer click on Tools > Options > Security > Internet > Custom Level.
- Make sure these options are set as follows:
- Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
- Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
- Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
- Installation of desktop items to Prompt
- Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
- 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.
- Press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
- Adaware SE Personal
Adaware is a free program. It scans for known spyware on your computer. These scans should be run at least once every two weeks. For more information, see this tutorial
- Spybot S & D
Spybot is a scanner like Adaware. It scans for spyware and other malicious programs. It is important to have both Adaware and Spybot on your computer because each program provides unique detection and protection measures. Spybot has preventitive tools that stop programs from even installing on your computer.
To see how to set this up as well as more spybot features, see here
- SpywareBlaster
Spyware blaster is a program that stops known malicious activex controls from installing on your computer. It works by changing settings in your registry. It makes "kill bits" in the registry, so that certain activex controls can't install.
If you don't know what activex controls are, see here
- IE Spyad
It puts many bad webpages on your restricted zones LIST. This means that you can still view the "bad" webpages, but the webpages can't do certain things (such as use javascripts and cookies). Use IE Spyad for single account computers, and IE Spyad 2 for multi account computers.
- Hosts file:
- Every version of windows has a hosts file as part of them.
- In a very basic sense, they are used to locate webpages.
- We can customize a hosts file so that it blocks certain webpages.
- However, it can slow down certain computers.
- This is why using a hosts file is optional!!
- Make sure you read the instructions on how to install the hosts file, here.
- If you decide to download the hosts file, the slowdown problems can usually be avoided by following these steps:
- Click the start button (at the lower left hand corner of your screen)
- Click run
- In the dialog box, type services.msc
- hit enter, then locate dns client
- Highlight it, then double-click it.
- On the dropdown box, change the setting from automatic to manual.
- Click ok
- Use an Anti Virus Software - It's 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, on line & their stand-alone anti virus programs:
Computer Safety On line - LIST of free Anti virus programs
- Use a Firewall - I cannot stress enough how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. For more info, check this webpage out.
See here to choose one.
- Site Advisor This is a utility that can be downloaded and installed. It loads an icon to the taskbar of your browser (versions for IE and Firefox), indicating the trustworthiness of the site you are on. Green for safe, Red for suspicious. Click on the icon to access details that SiteAdvisor has about the site.
Just a final reminder for you.
- UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!! Make sure you do this about every 1-2 weeks.
- Run Spybot and Adaware regularly. (Once a week minimum)
- It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure you always have the latest security updates 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.
Gary R
The above is a general post I give when someone's computer is clean. Obviously you have already taken care of some of the issues mentioned, but it is important that you read through them, and address any that you may have missed.
Keep secure.
Gary R
