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Old 07-11-2008, 05:19 AM   #14 (permalink)
amateur
Moderator, Analyst, Security Team ; Rangemaster, TSF Academy
 
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 7,289
OS: XP SP3


Re: Winspyware Hijacks my desktop and screen saver

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. I've been having some ISP problems where I am at the moment (supposedly on vacation). Thanks for the joke. It was much needed.

The log looks clean. You're good to go.

Create a new System Restore point to prevent reinfection from old restore points.

Go to Start>Run and type sysdm.cpl. Press Enter
  • Select the System Restore Tab
  • Place a check in "Turn off System Restore on all drives"
  • Click Apply
  • next, uncheck the same checkbox.
  • Click Apply
  • Click OK
You can also find instructions on how to disable and re enable system restore here:
Windows XP System Restore Guide

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

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!!

A colleague of ours has excellent information and tips on the prevention of malware here

If you want to fight back the Malware Writers, please take a look here and read what you can do against it.

Please respond to this thread one more time so we can mark this thread as resolved.

Happy Surfing!
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Last edited by amateur; 07-11-2008 at 05:33 AM. Reason: to fix a broken link
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