TheBruce1

Aloha,

Click start> Date, Time, language and Regional Options> Regional & Language Options> Regional Options Tab

Yes.

===========

Open HijackThis and click on 'Do a System Scan Only'. Check the following entries (If they still exist, make sure you do not miss any)

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {D46BEAA4-A304-40B3-A9DA-EC7F7F501F25} - (no file)

Please remember to close all other windows, including browsers then click Fix checked.

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

You don't seem to have a firewall program installed. Using a firewall will allow you to give/deny access for applications that want to go online. Select one of these, or another of your choice:

• Comodo Personal Firewall
• ZoneAlarm

.

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

Open notepad and copy/paste the text in the quotebox below into it:

Save this as CFscript







Refering to the picture above, drag CFscript into ComboFix.exe

Follow the prompts, and post the resulting log, C:\ComboFix.txt

Note: the above code was created specifically for this user. If you are not this user, do NOT follow these directions as they could damage the workings of your system.


Warning:
Do not mouseclick combofix's window whilst it's running. That may cause it to stall

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

You can keep ATF-Cleaner if you wish.

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

Well done, your logs are clean.

Click start>run>type(or copy/paste command into run box):

ComboFix /u

Click ok.

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

Clear IE7 cookies

*On the Internet Explorer 7 Tools menu, click Internet Options. The Internet Options box should open to the General tab.
*On the General tab, in the Browsing History, click the Delete button. This will delete all the files that are currently stored in your cache [that includes cookies too].
*Click OK, and then click OK again.


Clear Firefox cookies/cache

• Select "Tools"
• Select "Options".
• Select "Privacy".
• In "Settings" window put the check mark for Cookies,Cache,Browsing history and any others you want.
• Click OK.
• In Private area click "Clear Now".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MICROSOFT UPDATES

1.Click Start,Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then press OK.
2.Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click to select one of the following options. We recommend that you select the Automatic (recommended).

Microsoft updates are released every second Tuesday of each month,what is called "Patch Tuesday".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Useful Information and Programs to keep you safe.

TrendProtect is a FREE browser plug-in that helps you avoid Web pages with unwanted content and hidden threats. TrendProtect rates the current page and pages listed in Google, MSN, and Yahoo search results. You can use the rating to decide if you want to visit or avoid a given Web page. To rate Web pages, TrendProtect refers to an extensive database that covers the following information for billions of Web pages:

* Content category
* Phishing scam detection
* Site reputation
* Page reputation

WOT Free helps you avoid disingenuous Internet content by allowing you to learn from others' experiences. WOT shows you website reputations on your browser, telling you how much other users trust a website. This helps you make better decisions while browsing and avoid phishing, malware, and other types of fraud. Reputations can also be added to web search results, Gmail, Wikipedia, and other selected sites.

WOT reputations are computed mainly from user testimonies. Sharing your knowledge with others is just a click away, without ever having to leave the site. We also collect data from hundreds of other sources (including PhishTank) to quickly warn you of emerging threats. Currently, WOT knows over 12 million websites.
Note:Only compatible with Firefox 1.5 and higher.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternate Browsers
Try the following free alternate browsers rather than Internet Explorer
Avant
Firefox
Opera
K-Meleon

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Antispyware Products
SuperAntiSpyware
Ad-Aware
Spybot S&D
Download SpywareBlaster 4.1 to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place. Install & update SpywareBlaster with the latest definitions. After you have updated, click the button - enable protection for all unprotected items.
Download Spyware Guard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.

------------------------------------------------------------------

IE-Spyad™ is a freeware utility that places more than 4000 dubious websites and domains in the Internet Explorer Restricted List.

Download and installation instructions for IE-Spyad™ Here

-----------------------------------------

The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one that will restrict known ad sites from serving you unsolicited advertisements. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is the IP of your local computer. Note that if you use a company provided HOSTS file you should not use the MVPS HOSTS file.

If your having trouble downloading & extracting,see link below for guidance:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts2.htm

Once you have extracted the host file,double click on it and a new window will open.

Double-click on mvps.batand follow the prompts

---------------------------------------------------------------

Winpatrol - Download and install the free version of Winpatrol. A tutorial for this product is located here:
Using Winpatrol to protect your computer.

----------------------------------------

SnoopFree is a programme that informs you when another programme is wanting to log your keystrokes or read your screen.Only for XP users.

Update all these programs regularly. Without regular updates you will not be protected when new malicious programs are released.

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

Also, please take a look at these well written articles:

PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need?

HOW DID I GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE? by Tony Klein
THE ANTI-SPYWARE TUTORIAL
MAKING INTERNET EXPLORER SAFER
Understanding and Using Firewalls

**Be very wary with any security software that is advertised in popups or in other ways. They are not only usually of no use, but often have malware in them.

Please reply to this thread once more, as we may mark this as resolved, thanks.