Hi paultpa
Well looks like we finally got everything…… in the following you will find information on cleaning up hard drive space, and tips on staying safe. Also in the tips you will find free Antivirus that you asked about earlier, just remember to uninstall what you got and only run one AV. I personally like and use AntiVir.
CleanUp
Please double-click
OTMoveIt3.exe to run it.
- Click on the CleanUp! button
- Click Yes to begin the Cleanup process and remove these components, including this application.
- You may be asked to reboot the machine to finish the Cleanup process. If you are asked to reboot the machine choose Yes.
===============================================
Cleaning up Hard Drive space:
1) Uninstall anything that's no longer used via Add/Remove Programs.
2) Back-up to disk anything that isn't needed on the hard drive and delete the corresponding files.
3) Re-run
ATF Cleaner that I all ready had you download.
4) You can remove old M$ update uninstallation files to free up some space if you aren't going to uninstall them -
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_remove_hotfix_backup.zip will help automate this process.
This will also delete the logs that are left behind as well - unless you deselect that option.
5) You could reduce the amount of space that System restore claims as it's own and even clean out older Restore Points.
6)
DEFRAG THE DRIVE
Rather than the MS defrag, I use the free Auslogics version as it is faster and a tad better
Download link is here along with the running instructions
http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download
===============================================
This is my
standard post for when you are clear - which you now are - or seem to be. Please advise me of any problems you
still have. . I know you already have some of these items like antivirus or firewall, but I like to include them anyway incase you ever need them or want to change them.
Now that you are clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:
[external image: Posted Image] 1.) Watch what you download!
Many freeware programs, and P2P programs like Grokster, Imesh, Kazaa and others are amongst the most notorious, come with an enormous amount of bundled spyware that will eat system resources, slow down your system, clash with other installed software, or just plain crash your browser or even Windows itself. If you insist on using a P2P program, please read
This Article written by Mike Healan of Spywareinfo.com fame. It is an updated and comprehensive article that gives in-depth detail about which P2P programs are "safe" to use.
[external image: Posted Image] 2.) Go to
Intenet Explorer >
Tools >
Windows Update >
Product Updates, and install ALL High-Priority Security Updates listed. If you're running Windows XP, that of course includes the Service Pack 2! If you suspect your computer is infected with Malware of any type, we advise you to not install SP2 if you don't already have it. You can post a HijackThis log on our Forums to get free Expert help cleaning your machine. Once you are sure you have a clean system, it is highly recommended to install SP2 to help prevent against future infections.
It's important to always keep current with the latest security fixes from Microsoft.
Install those patches for Internet Explorer, and make sure your installation of Java VM is up-to-date. There are some well known security bugs with Microsoft Java VM which are exploited regularly by browser hijackers.
[external image: Posted Image] 3.) Open
Intenet Explorer and go to
Internet Options >
Security >
Internet, then press "
Default Level", then
OK. Now press "
Custom Level." In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to "
Prompt", and ("Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe") to "
Disable".
Now you will be asked whether you want ActiveX objects to be executed and whether you want software to be installed.
Sites that you know for sure are above suspicion can be moved to the Trusted Zone in Internet Option > Security.
So why is ActiveX so dangerous that you have to increase the security for it?
When your browser runs an activex control, it is running an executable program. It's no different from doubleclicking an exe file on your hard drive.
Would you run just any random file downloaded off a web site without knowing what it is and what it does?
[external image: Posted Image] 4.) Install Javacool's SpywareBlaster
It will protect you from most spy/foistware in it's database by blocking installation of their ActiveX objects.
Download and install, download the latest updates, and you'll see a list of all spyware programs covered by the program (NOTE: this is NOT spyware found on your computer) Press
"Enable All Protection", and you're done.
The spyware that you told Spywareblaster to set the "kill bit" for won't be a hazard to you any longer. Although it won't protect you from every form of spyware known to man, it is a very potent extra layer of protection.
Don't forget to check for updates
every week or so.
[external image: Posted Image] 5.) Let's also not forget that Spybot Search & Destroy has the Immunize feature which works roughly the same way. Another feature within Spybot is the
TeaTimer option. This option immediately detects known malicious processes wanting to start and terminates them. TeaTimer also detects when something wants to change some critical registry keys and gives you an option to allow them or not.
[external image: Posted Image] 6.) Microsoft now offers their own free malicious software blocking tool.
Windows Defender improves Internet browsing safety by guarding over fifty (50) ways spyware can enter your PC.
[external image: Posted Image] 7.) Another excellent program by Javacool we recommend is
SpywareGuard.
It provides a degree of real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method.
[external image: Posted Image] 8.) IE-SPYAD puts over 5000 sites in your restricted zone, so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all. Another good hosts program is
mvpshosts. This little program packs a powerful punch as it block ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and many hijackers. For information on how to download and install, please read this tutorial.
*It is important to note that all of the above programs/files can be run simultaneously on your system. They will work together in layers, so to speak, to help protect your computer. However, the following suggestions are designed to only run one of each. It is not a good idea to run more than one firewall, and one anti-virus program. Running more than one of these at a time can cause system crashes, high system usage and/or conflicts with each other.*
[external image: Posted Image] 9.) It is critical that you use a firewall to protect your computer from hackers. We don't recommend the firewall that comes built in to Windows. It doesn't block everything that may try to get in, and the entire firewall is written to the registry. As various kinds of malware hack the Registry in order to disable the Windows firewall, it's far preferable to install one of the excellent third party solutions. Three good ones that are freeware to boot are
ZoneAlarm,
Kerio and Sygate
[external image: Posted Image] 10.) An Anti-Virus product is a necessity. There are many excellent programs that you can purchase. However, we choose to advocate the use of free programs whenever possible. Some very good and easy-to-use free A/V programs are
AVG, Avast, and
AntiVir. It's a good idea to set these to receive automatic updates so you are always as fully protected as possible from the newest virus threats.
NOTE: DO NOT install more than one anti-virus program. They will conflict, and provide less protection, not more.
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.
Thanks for letting us help you!
