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Old 08-16-2007, 09:23 AM   #15 (permalink)
tetonbob
Manager, Security Center, TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team
 
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 35,237
OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home


Re: General System Maintenance

From the XoftSpy user guide:
Quote:
XoftSpySE keeps a log of each scan it completes. The log contains information on when the last scan was performed; the settings; folders and files scanned; and the results. All logs are saved in the C:\Program Files\XoftSpySE\Logs\ folder by default. No personal information is saved in the log.
As I indicated earlier, Xoftspy had a track record of false positives, and I don't care much for it. I'd rather use a program I'm familiar with and trust to see if there are any stragglers in the registry, but really, if those exist, they are just orphans....no active infection.

Download AVG Anti Spyware
  • Install AVG Anti Spyware
  • Double-click the icon on Desktop to launch AVG
  • On the main Status screen, under Your Computer's Security, click Resident Shield
  • Click the word active to change it to inactive
  • On the top of the main screen click Update.
  • Then click on Start Update. The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
  • Once the update has completed select the "Scanner" icon at the top of the screen, then select the "Settings" tab.
  • Once in the Settings screen click on "Recommended actions" and then select "Quarantine".
  • Under "Reports"
    • Select "Do Not Automatically generate report after every scan"
When you have finished updating, EXIT AVG Anti Spyware. Do Not run a scan just yet, we will shortly.

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Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
This program is for XP and Windows 2000 only
  • Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
    Under Main choose: Select All
    Click the Empty Selected button.
If you use Firefox browser
  • Click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
    Click the Empty Selected button.
    NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
If you use Opera browser
  • Click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
    Click the Empty Selected button.
    NOTE: If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.
For Technical Support, double-click the e-mail address located at the bottom of each menu.

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Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key repeatedly until a menu shows up (and choose Safe Mode from the list). In some systems, this may be the F5 key, so try that if F8 doesn't work. Login on your usual account. Make sure to close any open browsers.

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Run AVG Anti-Spyware with it's updated definitions:(...it's important that all windows must be closed)
  • Click Scanner
  • Click on the Scan tab
  • Click Complete System Scan to begin scanning.
    Once the scan is complete do the following:
  • If you have any infections you will prompted, then select "Apply all actions"
  • Once finished, click the Save report button, then click Save Report As and save it to your desktop. (make sure to remember where you saved that file, this is important).

Restart in normal mode.

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Open HijackThis and click on 'Do a System Scan and save a Logfile'. Save the log file and post it here.

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Microsoft MVP - Consumer Security 2009
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