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Spyware / Malware / Virus Removal

[Resolved] Laptop totally FUBAR

19 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 Advice, software, and links below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.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 #16
Hi

Please make a uninstall list using HijackThis
To access the Uninstall Manager you would do the following:

1. Start HijackThis
2. Click on the Config button
3. Click on the Misc Tools button
4. Click on the Open Uninstall Manager button.
5. Click on the Save list… button and specify where you would like to save this file. When you press Save button a notepad will open with the contents of that file. Simply copy and paste the contents of that notepad here in a reply.
Post #17
Just FYI, I have an icon on my desktop called ATF-Cleaner.exe I have not messed with it and I didn't put it there. Been afraid to delete it because I didn't even want to click on it at all. Here is the HJT Log Requested: Ad-Aware 2007 Adobe Acrobat - Reader 6.0.2 Update Adobe Acrobat 6.0.1 Professional Adobe Acrobat and Reader 6.0.3 Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader 6.0.4 Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader 6.0.5 Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader 6.0.6 Update Adobe Acrobat and Reader 8.1.2 Security Update 1 (KB403742) Adobe Flash Player ActiveX Adobe Interactive Forms Update SP1 Adobe Reader 8.1.1 Adobe Reader 8.1.2 Advanced Registry Optimizer Apple Mobile Device Support Apple Software Update ASUS ATK0100 ACPI UTILITY ATI - Software Uninstall Utility ATI Catalyst Control Center ATI Display Driver Audacity 1.2.6 AVG 7.5 BisonCam, NB Pro BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.3 BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.3 BlackBerry Device Software v4.3.0 for the BlackBerry 8130 smartphone Brother MFL-Pro Suite CD-DA X-Tractor v0.24 Cheetah DVD Burner Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system DVD Shrink 3.2 eFax Messenger 4.3 Fast Audio Converter version 1.2rc15 FlashFXP v3 GSplit 2.1 High Definition Audio Driver Package - KB888111 HijackThis 2.0.2 Hotfix for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB947864) Hotfix for Windows Media Format 11 SDK (KB929399) Hotfix for Windows Media Player 10 (KB903157) Hotfix for Windows Media Player 11 (KB939683) HS CleanDisk Pro Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software iTunes J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10 J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 7 J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 9 Java™ 6 Update 4 K-Lite Codec Pack 3.7.5 Full LiveReg (Symantec Corporation) Magic Online Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware mCore mDriver mDrWiFi mEoU mHelp Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 Hotfix (KB928366) Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Service Pack 1 Microsoft Access 2000 Runtime Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0 Microsoft Compression Client Pack 1.0 for Windows XP Microsoft National Language Support Downlevel APIs Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition [ENU] Microsoft User-Mode Driver Framework Feature Pack 1.0 Microsoft WSE 2.0 SP3 Runtime mIWA mLogView mMHouse Mobile Broadband Generic Drivers Mobipocket Creator 4.2 Mobipocket Reader 6.2 MortgageCoach Motorola SM56 Data Fax Modem Mozilla Firefox (3.0) mPfMgr mPfWiz mProSafe MSN MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB927978) MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB936181) mWlsSafe mXML mZConfig NewsLeecher v3.91 Beta 1 OK Registry Cleaner v2.0 OpenAL Palm Palm Desktop by ACCESS PaperPort Plaxo Toolbar for Windows Point PokerStars.net PowerDVD PowerDVD Ultra QuickPar 0.9 QuickTime REALTEK Gigabit and Fast Ethernet NIC Driver Realtek High Definition Audio Driver Roxio Media Manager Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB928090) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB931768) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB933566) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB937143) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB938127) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB939653) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB942615) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB944533) Security Update for Windows Internet Explorer 7 (KB950759) Security Update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB917734) Security Update for Windows Media Player 11 (KB936782) Security Update for Windows XP (KB941569) Security Update for Windows XP (KB950760) Security Update for Windows XP (KB950762) Security Update for Windows XP (KB951376) Security Update for Windows XP (KB951376-v2) Security Update for Windows XP (KB951698) Security Update for Windows XP (KB951748) Sprint Mobile Broadband (Novatel Wireless) Spybot - Search & Destroy SpywareGuard v2.2 Synaptics Pointing Device Driver UltimateDefrag Update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB913800) Update for Windows Media Player 10 (KB926251) Update for Windows XP (KB951978) Update Rollup 2 for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 VB Runtime VCRedistSetup VideoLAN VLC media player 0.8.6d VNC Free Edition 4.1.2 What's Running 2.2 Windows Imaging Component Windows Live installer Windows Live Mail Windows Live Messenger Windows Live OneCare safety scanner Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Live Sign-in Assistant Windows Live Writer Windows Media Format 11 runtime Windows Media Format 11 runtime Windows Media Player 10 Hotfix - KB894476 Windows Media Player 11 Windows Media Player 11 Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 KB925766 Windows XP Service Pack 3 WinRAR archiver Yahoo! Messenger YaTBoT 2.7.6
Post #18
Hello

ATFCleaner is what I asked you to run before the F-Secure Scan. It's a temp file cleaner. It doesnt actually install on your computer and can just be deleted, but I have it on my Desktop too.

Time for some housekeeping
  • Click START then RUN
  • Now type Combofix /u in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the x and the /u, it needs to be there.

    [external image: Posted Image]



Delete the older versions of Java and download the newest.
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 or J2SE) 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.
Then download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) (5th one down the list), which is JRE6u7, and click Yes at the page warning. Under "Platform" select Windows, then check the box to accept the Licence Agreement. Click Yes at the second page warning before downloading the Offline file.
To avoid using the Sun Download manager just click on the link below Windows Offline Installation which says jre-6u7-windows-i586-p.exe.


Remove programs from Add/Remove Programs List
Please go to:
  • Start
  • Control Panel
  • Add/Remove Programs
Find and remove these programs (if they are present)

  • VNC Free Edition 4.1.2


Finally, post a new HijackThis log, and tell me how the computer is behaving now.
Post #19
Ok, followed all the above steps. VNC was something I put on my computer myself a long time ago but I went ahead and removed it because I don't use it anymore (and in case it had become corrupt). I also removed a bunch of those little registry fix-it programs that I never really use anyway.

Cleared out my Temp Files (best I could, there are always some files in there you can't delete with the ~ in front of them) and cleared out my Temp Internet files. Emptied the Recycle Bin and defragged the computer.

I do have a 160gb USB drive that I store a lot of files on and my little USB drive that I use to transport files to and from work on occasion.. Is there some proceedure I should use the scan those to make sure they are clean?

Otherwise the computer seems to be working pretty good so far. Here is the HJT Log.

Is there some way to tell QuickTime NOT to load at Start-Up? I think I have told it a million times to NOT load at StartUp through MSCONFIG but it always seems to work it's way back there. OH HAHA, I just tried to remove it again through MSCONFIG and SpyWare Guard prevented the Registry changes. Guess I told SpywareGuard sometime in the past to deny that change and remember the setting.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 09:50, on 7/19/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16674)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehRecvr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\eHome\ehSched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Novatel Wireless\Sprint\Sprint PCS Connection Manager\OSCMUtilityService.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\rapimgr.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgbhp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Intel\Wireless\Bin\Dot1XCfg.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://us.rd.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaul…rch/search.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEToolbarHelper Class - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: FlashFXP Helper for Internet Explorer - {E5A1691B-D188-4419-AD02-90002030B8EE} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashFXP\IEFlash.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelZeroConfig] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelWireless] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe" /tf Intel PROSet/Wireless
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\Binaries\MSCONFIG.EXE /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] "C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YahooMessenger.exe" -quiet
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'LOCAL SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'NETWORK SERVICE')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [AVG7_Run] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe /RUNONCE (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: SpywareGuard.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Blog This - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &Blog This in Windows Live Writer - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - Cmdmapping - (no file) (HKCU)
O16 - DPF: {08BEF711-06DA-48B2-9534-802ECAA2E4F9} (PlxInstall Class) - https://www.plaxo.com/down/latest/PlaxoInstall.cab
O16 - DPF: {1663ed61-23eb-11d2-b92f-008048fdd814} (MeadCo ScriptX Advanced) - https://www.taylorbeanonline.com/scriptx/smsx.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {4788DE0A-3552-49EA-AC8C-233DA52523B9} (AxLoaderPassword Class) - http://www.blackberry.com/devicesoftware/AxLoader.cab
O16 - DPF: {5D86DDB5-BDF9-441B-9E9E-D4730F4EE499} (BDSCANONLINE Control) - http://download.bitdefender.com/resources/scan8/oscan8.cab
O16 - DPF: {7DD62E58-5FA8-11D2-AFB7-00104B64F126} - http://www.swiftview.com/product/public/sv…all_a_green.exe
O16 - DPF: {BDBDE413-7B1C-4C68-A8FF-C5B2B4090876} (F-Secure Online Scanner 3.3) - http://support.f-secure.com/ols/fscax.cab
O16 - DPF: {FF1CD9A3-00CD-45C1-8182-4EEC229A182D} (Plaxo Auto-Import Utility) - https://www.plaxo.com/activex/plx_upldr-2k-xp.cab
O23 - Service: Ad-Aware 2007 Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2007\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: OSCM Utility Service - Sprint Spectrum, L.L.C - C:\Program Files\Novatel Wireless\Sprint\Sprint PCS Connection Manager\OSCMUtilityService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio UPnP Renderer 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUPnPRenderer9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Upnp Server 9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Digital Home 9\RoxioUpnpService9.exe
O23 - Service: LiveShare P2P Server 9 (RoxLiveShare9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxLiveShare9.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Service (S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe

–
End of file - 10627 bytes
Post #20
hi

Yes, Spywareguard and Spybots Teatimer protect against registry changes.
It's best to plug-in any usb drives when scanning.

Congratulations, you appear to be malware free.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a good program to keep. If you wish to keep it, use it to do a quick scan once a week and keep it updated.
Remember, only the paid for version offers real-time protection

Here is another couple of free programs I recommend.

Winpatrol
Winpatrol is heuristic protection program, meaning it looks for patterns in codes that work like malware. It also takes a snapshot of your system's critical resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without you knowing. You can read more about Winpatrol's features here.

You can get a free copy of Winpatrol or use the Plus version for more features.

You can read Winpatrol's FAQ if you run into problems.

Spyware Blaster
SpywareBlaster is a program that is used to secure Internet Explorer by making it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. It does this by disabling known offending ActiveX programs from running at all.

You can download SpywareBlaster from Javacool.

If you need help in using SpywareBlaster, you can read SpywareBlaster's tutorial at Bleeping Computer.


Hosts File
A Hosts file is like a phone book. You look up someone's name in the phone book before calling him/her. Similarly, your PC will look up the website's IP address before you can view the website.

Hosts file will replace your current Hosts file with another one containing well-known advertisement sites, spyware sites and other bad sites. This new Hosts file will protect you by re-directing these bad sites to 127.0.0.1.

Here is a good Hosts file:

MVPS Hosts File

A tutorial about Hosts File can be found at Malware Removal.


Make sure your Windows is ALWAYS up to date!

An unpatched Windows is vulnerable and even with the "best" Antivirus and Firewall installed, malware will find its way through.
So visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to download and install the latest updates.


Update your Antivirus programs and other security products regularly to avoid new threats that could infect your system.


Here is some great information from experts in this field that will help you stay clean and safe online.
http://forum.malwareremoval.com/viewtopic.php?t=14

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

I'd be grateful if you could reply to this post so that I know you have read it and, if you've no other questions, the thread can be closed.
Post #21
Scotty, Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!!! I will look up and install those other programs that you recommended. I have also made the switch from IE to Mozilla and am going to try to use that 100%. I already installed several mozilla add-ons that block pop ups and scripts from running on pages. I think I am also going to upgrade my virus protection from a free version to a paid version. Is there a place I can donate? I can't offer a lot but you certainly saved me in more ways than one. Oh, I also might be back with a log from a friends computer. I told him how you saved me :notworthy: from one of the most annoying virus's I have ever had and he told me his computer is doing some funny things so I said I would either point him here or help him out if I could. THANKYOU :yeah: THANKYOU :woot: THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Post #22
Hi

Avira make a very good free anti-virus
http://www.free-av.com/

or the best paid for anti-virus has to be NOD32
http://www.eset.com/

Avoid Norton and McAfee. They are resource hungry, and frankly, not that good.

If you look up to the left of the page, you will see a Donate link.

You will need to ask your friend to start a new thread, as I will be closing this one.
Post #23
Hopefully you haven't closed this one yet. And yes, I was going to start a new thread. But I am trying to figure out how to access Spyware Guard's Resident and Teatimer Black/White lists. I can't seem to find where to do that so I can take out the Blacklist entry for taking Quicktime out of my startup programs.
Post #24
Hi

Here's a little workaround

Disable SpywareGuard
I notice that you have SpywareGuard running. While this is normally a wonderful tool to protect against hijackers, it can also interfere with HijackThis fixes. You can re-enable this when your computer is already clean.
Double-click the red SG icon in your system tray.
Click Options.
Under General, Uncheck all 3 options, then click Save Settings.
Close Spywareguard.


Disable Teatimer
First:
  • Right click Spybot in the System Tray (looks like a calendar with a padlock symbol)
  • Choose Exit Spybot S&D Resident
Second:
  • Open Spybot S&D
  • Click Mode, check Advanced Mode
  • Go To Left Panel, Click Tools, then also in left panel, click Resident
  • If your firewall raises a question, say OK
  • Uncheck the box labeled Resident Tea-Timer and OK any prompts.
  • Use File, Exit to terminate Spybot
  • Reboot your machine for the changes to take effect.


Run HijackThis, select Do a system scan only and place checks against the following entries (if they are still present):

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime


WITH ALL OTHER WINDOWS CLOSED Click on Fix Checked exit HijackThis and reboot.

Now re-enable Spywareguard and Teatimer by reversing the above instructions.

If you have installed Winpatrol, it will alert you should Quicktime try to re-establish itself. Do not allow it.
Post #25
Thankyou for the quick response, Scotty. I did install WinPatrol and like it a lot. My icon for Teatimer was missing from the System Tray so I did a search online about this and tried the work arounds that I found. One of the final suggestions was to uninstall and re-install to fix the issue. So I uninstalled SpyWare Guard and SpyBot. Used WinPatrol to remove QuickTime and am not going to re-install and update SpywareGuard and Spybot. Thanks again for all your help!!!!
Post #27
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