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Old 05-13-2008, 06:12 AM   #21 (permalink)
amateur
Moderator, Analyst, Security Team
 
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Rhode Island, USA
Posts: 2,721
OS: XP Home SP3, XP Media Center Edition SP3


Re: Windows Update fails

Hi,

The following entries are not malware, just clutter. Have them fixed with the HijackThis following my earlier instructions.

O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (file missing)
O16 - DPF: {00000161-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} () - http://codecs.microsoft.com/codecs/i386/msaudio.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0014-0001-0003-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Plug-in 1.4.1_03) -
O16 - DPF: {FF0C042C-98E9-4C36-B2EC-E21FDFDCEF75} () - http://download.redswoosh.net/Instal...sinstaller.cab


====================================

The event records state that some security updates for your Office software could not be installed. If these are the updates you're referring to, it suggests that you visit and follow the instructions at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=23127

Quote:
Hi, the software was for employees and retirees because of access to retiree buletin boards at that time.
I would suggest that you may get some answers from the IT department of your ex-work place for these issues. Looks like your Operating System is updating, but not your Office software. You may have to login to your ex-employer's servers to get your office updates.

====================================

As far as malware is concerned, your logs are clean.
  • Click Start then Run
  • Now type Combofix /u in the runbox and click OK. Notice the space between the Combofix and the /



    This will uninstall ComboFix. It will also implement some cleanup procedures and reset System Restore to prevent reinfection from old restore points.

Here are some steps to make your surfing more secure in future:

Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:

From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.
Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialise and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the 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.
Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

Avoid illegal sites, because that's where most malware is present.

* Don't click on links inside popups.
* Don't click on links in spam messages claiming to offer anti-spyware software; because most of these so called removers ARE spyware.
* Download free software only from sites you know and trust. Because a lot of free software can bundle other software, including spyware.

Keep your antivirus-program up-to-date and do regular scans with it. Please make sure that you have only one active antivirus program on your system.

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 http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ to get the critical updates.

If you are running Microsoft, or any portion thereof, go to the Microsoft's Office Update site http://office.microsoft.com/officeup....aspx?lc=en-us and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed (Free) Microsoft Office Update.

The following free realtime pestscanners prevent a number of malware-variants from entering your computer, in the first place:

SpywareBlaster A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial49.html
SpywareGuard here

If you haven't got one, already, install a firewall and keep it up-to-date. Please make sure that you have only one active firewall on your system.

A firewall will prevent unauthorized contact between your computer and internet. A tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones can be found here:
http://forum.malwareremoval.com/viewtopic.php?p=56#56
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial60.html

Test your firewall here to make sure that it's working properly

ATF Cleaner by Atribune is a useful utility to clean the temporary files and cookies on a regular basis.

But above all, keep all your software UP-TO-DATE at all time!!

Have a nice trip!
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