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**RavenMind** · 10-25-2005, 02:44 PM

Congratulations, your log now appears clean!

We have just a few more steps to go before we're finished.

Reset Hidden & System Files/Folders.
1. Click "Start"
2. Open "My Computer"
3. Select the "Tools" menu and click "Folder Options"
4. Select the "View" tab
5. Deselect the "Show hidden files and folders" option
6. Select the "Hide file extensions for known types" option
7. Select the "Hide protected operating system files" option
8. Click "Yes" to confirm
9. Click "OK"
Clear Java Cache
1. Click "Start" > "Settings" > "Control Panel"
2. Click the "Java Plugin" icon
3. Click the "Cache" tab
4. Click the "Clear" button
5. Click "OK" to confirm
Note: Please repeat this procedure for each "Java Plugin" button in your Control Panel

Follow the instructions outlined here to clear Sun's Java cache.
Flush System Restore Points

Turn off System Restore:
1. Right-click "My Computer"
2. Click "Properties"
3. Click the "System Restore" tab
4. Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives".
5. Click "Apply"
  When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted.
  - Click "Yes" to proceed
6. Click "OK"
Reboot your System.

Turn on System Restore
1. Right-click "My Computer"
2. Click "Properties"
3. Click the "System Restore" tab
4. Un-Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives".
5. Click "Apply"
6. Click "OK"
Note: It is very important to remember to turn system restore back on after reboot! If you do not, System Restore will remain deactivated & you will not have any previous points to restore back to should it become necessary to do so.

Preventative Measures:

Use an Alternative Browser. Most of the spyware/viruses/trojans out today target known flaws in I.E. Using an alternative browser closes most of those loopholes & you will find yourself getting far fewer (if any) infections. I'm a fan of FireFox for it's functionality, security, & low demand on system resources. Here are a few of the more popular alternative browsers:
- FireFox
- Opera
- Netscape
Secure Internet Explorer. If you choose to stay with Internet Explorer, your likelihood of reinfection is much higher. Therefore you should follow these steps to help make I.E. more secure.
- Don't add sites to the "Trusted Zone". Ever.
- Download IESpyAd. This will add over 4000 known bad websites to the Restricted Zones list & help prevent you from being redirected to them.
- Download & install Javacool's SpywareBlaster. This program will help block the download of malicious Active-X controls, block tracking cookies, and add known bad websites to the Restricted Zones list.
Obtain & use a good firewall. Firewalls are important in preventing direct attacks on your system as well as notifying you when you have malware trying to dial out. It looks like you have a firewall through Norton/Symantec. However if you don't have it set up, or don't want to use Symantec products, here are a few good free firewalls:
- Sygate
- ZoneAlarm (Not recommended for Win ME.)
- Kerio
AntiVirus I see you have Norton/Symantec installed. Please remember to check for updates often in order to stay protected. if you choose to rid yourself or Norton, here are some good free products:
Anti-Spyware Programs. You should consider downloading & using the following programs if you haven’t already. I have found for best results, a moderate internet user should use these at least once every two weeks.
- AdAware SE, including the VX2 plugin.
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- Javacool's SpywareGuard
- CleanUp!, to clean out those temp folders where spyware likes to hide.
Important: Please visit this site to learn how to configure & use the preceding programs. And remember to check for updates often!
Keep Windows Updated! Microsoft comes out with patches & security updates all the time. Please remember to visit this site often for updates, or better yet, configure your automatic update feature to do it for you.

If you have any further questions please feel free to ask, or post a new thread in the appropriate forum. Thanks for visiting TSF!

RavenMind

Note: Please respond to this post so that we can mark this thread as resolved.

10-25-2005, 02:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
RavenMind Lazy Bum Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 1,015 OS: XP Home SP3/Vista	Congratulations, your log now appears clean! We have just a few more steps to go before we're finished. Reset Hidden & System Files/Folders. Click "Start" Open "My Computer" Select the "Tools" menu and click "Folder Options" Select the "View" tab Deselect the "Show hidden files and folders" option Select the "Hide file extensions for known types" option Select the "Hide protected operating system files" option Click "Yes" to confirm Click "OK" Clear Java Cache Click "Start" > "Settings" > "Control Panel" Click the "Java Plugin" icon Click the "Cache" tab Click the "Clear" button Click "OK" to confirm Note: Please repeat this procedure for each "Java Plugin" button in your Control Panel Follow the instructions outlined here to clear Sun's Java cache. Flush System Restore Points Turn off System Restore: Right-click "My Computer" Click "Properties" Click the "System Restore" tab Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives". Click "Apply" When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click "Yes" to proceed Click "OK" Reboot your System. Turn on System Restore Right-click "My Computer" Click "Properties" Click the "System Restore" tab Un-Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives". Click "Apply" Click "OK" Note: It is very important to remember to turn system restore back on after reboot! If you do not, System Restore will remain deactivated & you will not have any previous points to restore back to should it become necessary to do so. Preventative Measures: Use an Alternative Browser. Most of the spyware/viruses/trojans out today target known flaws in I.E. Using an alternative browser closes most of those loopholes & you will find yourself getting far fewer (if any) infections. I'm a fan of FireFox for it's functionality, security, & low demand on system resources. Here are a few of the more popular alternative browsers: FireFox Opera Netscape Secure Internet Explorer. If you choose to stay with Internet Explorer, your likelihood of reinfection is much higher. Therefore you should follow these steps to help make I.E. more secure. Don't add sites to the "Trusted Zone". Ever. Download IESpyAd. This will add over 4000 known bad websites to the Restricted Zones list & help prevent you from being redirected to them. Download & install Javacool's SpywareBlaster. This program will help block the download of malicious Active-X controls, block tracking cookies, and add known bad websites to the Restricted Zones list. Obtain & use a good firewall. Firewalls are important in preventing direct attacks on your system as well as notifying you when you have malware trying to dial out. It looks like you have a firewall through Norton/Symantec. However if you don't have it set up, or don't want to use Symantec products, here are a few good free firewalls: Sygate ZoneAlarm (Not recommended for Win ME.) Kerio AntiVirus I see you have Norton/Symantec installed. Please remember to check for updates often in order to stay protected. if you choose to rid yourself or Norton, here are some good free products: Avast! AVG AntiVir Anti-Spyware Programs. You should consider downloading & using the following programs if you haven’t already. I have found for best results, a moderate internet user should use these at least once every two weeks. AdAware SE, including the VX2 plugin. Spybot Search & Destroy Javacool's SpywareGuard CleanUp!, to clean out those temp folders where spyware likes to hide. Important: Please visit this site to learn how to configure & use the preceding programs. And remember to check for updates often! Keep Windows Updated! Microsoft comes out with patches & security updates all the time. Please remember to visit this site often for updates, or better yet, configure your automatic update feature to do it for you. If you have any further questions please feel free to ask, or post a new thread in the appropriate forum. Thanks for visiting TSF! RavenMind Note: Please respond to this post so that we can mark this thread as resolved.