[Resolved] browser crashes, pop ups

• First, find and delete C:\windows\ntbtlog.txt
• Restart your computer.
• Just before the XP loading screen starts hit F8 as if going into safe mode.
• From the advanced boot menu choose enable boot logging then hit enter.
• Your computer will start up as usual, except it will create a log of its bootup processes for one time only.

• Click the Add Reply button (don't use Fast Reply)
• Scroll down to find the Attachments frame.
• Click on the Browse button and a Window will open.
  
  • Navigate to the file C:\windows\ntbtlog.txt
  • Click on it to highlight it.
  • Click Open (this will close the window)
• The file path should now be in the browse field next to the Browse button.
• Click Add Reply

• Double click OTMoveIt3.exe to launch the programme.
• Click on the CleanUp! button.
• OTMoveIt will download a list from the Internet, if your firewall or other defensive programmes alerts you, allow it access.
• You will be prompted to allow the clean up procedure, click Yes
• When finished exit out of OTMoveIt
• Now delete OTMoveIt3.exe (if still present).

• 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, NOT on a regular basis.

• If you are let me know about them.
• If not it's time to make your computer more secure.

Before I make any recommendations, I'd like to give a simplified overview of how your defensive systems work and what you can do to protect yourself better in future.

The average home computer has approximately 64,000 ports through which it can communicate. By default these ports are open and can be used by any programme which cares to access them, either from within the computer or from without. If you were to go online with a computer in this condition you would quickly be attacked and your computer would be infected.

To prevent this you install a Firewall. A firewall will close all open ports and you then open the ones you need by setting "rules" for them according to the instructions supplied with the Firewall programme. Usually you will have ports open for your Internet Browser, your e-mail client, and the update functions for various programmes.

These "open" ports will not be fully accessible, in that they will only allow a communication if it was instigated from within your computer. Any unsolicited communications from outside are blocked.

However if you are tricked into starting the communication, then as far as your Firewall is concerned it is a legit transaction and it will open the port. So by clicking on malicious links, replying to unsolicited e-mails and attachments, and downloading from unsafe sources, you are effectively bypassing any protection your Firewall supplies.

At this point your Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus programmes take over. The real-time-protection in these constantly scan the data stream in your open ports looking for things that match with items in the database they have within them. If they find something then they will alert you, or quarantine it, or delete it, according to the rules set within the programme.

However as you can see, if the database does not contain details of the infection that's attacking you, then your Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware programmes will not protect you. There are new infections (or new variations of old infections) created every day, which is why it's vital to keep your programmes up to date. Even with a fully updated database though, you are still playing catchup, which is why your Firewall, Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware programmes cannot ever give you 100% protection.

Adding more and more programmes will not give you more and more protection, it's up to you to take some responsibility for your online actions, and modify them to give your programmes the best chance of protecting you.

Be careful what you click on.

• Don't download anything from a site you do not know and trust. Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch, if something seems too good to be true it is. Malware purveyors love to offer out freebies as bait knowing full well that one unguarded click is all it takes.
  
• Don't reply to unsolicited e-mails.
  
• Don't open e-mail attachments (even from friends) without checking with the source to ensure they actually sent them.
  
• Don't use P2P file sharing programmes. Even the ones that don't come bundled (and many do) are not safe. By using them you are effectively downloading from an unknown source, with all the dangers described above.

• Firewall
• Anti-Virus
• Anti-Spyware

• Firewalls
• Anti-Virus
• Anti-Spyware

• Block access to sites known to spread Malware.
• Give you clear indication of which they are, so that you can make choices.

Download HostsXpert and unzip it to your computer, somewhere where you can find it.

• Double click on HostsXpert.exe to launch the programme.
• Check to see if top button on left hand side says Make Writable ?
  
  • If it does. click on it then proceed to next instruction.
  • If not, just proceed to next instruction
• Click on the Download button (lower left hand side)
  
  • Click on MVPs Hosts… button.
  • Click on Replace button.
  • Press OK in the box that pops up. (HostsXpert will now download and update your Hosts file)
• When finished.
  
  • Click on File Handling button.
  • Click on Make Read Only ? to secure it against infection.
• Exit the programme.

• 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. This is important as it's still possible to get infected through an old install even if you're using the latest version of Java.
  
  Download JavaRa by Prm753 and unzip it to your desktop.
  
  

• Double-click on JavaRa.exe to start the program.
• Click on Remove Older Versions to remove the older versions of Java installed on your computer.
• Click Yes when prompted.
• When JavaRa is done, a notice will appear that a logfile has been produced.
• Click OK.
  
• The logfile will pop up.
• Please save it to a convenient location.

• Update Windows and Internet Explorer It is essential you keep your Operating System up to date with all the latest patches. The bad guys watch for the latest exploits, as soon as Microsoft brings out a patch, the bad guys will bring out an infection to exploit that vulnerability. If you don't have all the latest patches your computer is vulnerable. Please go to the windows update site and get the critical updates.

• Use a "secure" browser Install Internet Explorer 7 or an alternative browser like Firefox or Opera for more secure surfing.
  Please remember that there is no such thing as a totally secure browser. Your browsing habits will be the major factor in determining just how safe you are online. If you visit, Crack/Warez sites, Porn sites, or other sites of a questionable nature, you still run a severe risk of getting infected.

• Do not use P2P file sharing programmes I'd like you to read the Guidelines for P2P Programs where it's explained why it's not a good idea to have them.
  
  My recommendation is you go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs and uninstall any P2P programs you have installed.

• 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.

• The Spyware Warrior Guide to Getting help with Spyware
• Microsoft - Security at Home
• Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet
• What to do if your Computer's running slowly