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Old 01-09-2006, 04:19 PM   #4 (permalink)
Glaswegian
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 25,153
OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro

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Hi rmmorse

Looks like the format and reinstall has helped.

You can use HijackThis to fix this entry

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {549B5CA7-4A86-11D7-A4DF-000874180BB3} - (no file)

unless you know what it’s for. Other than that your log is clean.

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programs:

  • Spyware Blaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.
  • Spyware Guard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.
  • Spybot - Search & Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with the program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here.

AD-AWARE
Download and install Ad-Aware . You should use this program to scan your computer on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here.

IE-SPYAD
IE-Spyad places more than 4000 dubious websites and domains in the IE Restricted list. This severely impairs attempts to infect your system. It basically prevents any downloads (Cookies etc) from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites. A tutorial on installing this product can be found here.

MVPS HOSTS FILE
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.

ALTERNATE BROWSERS
Try the following free alternate browsers rather than Internet Explorer
Firefox
Opera

FIREWALLS
A good firewall will monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. NOTE: Microsoft's Firewall does not monitor outgoing traffic. If you do not have a firewall, here are 2 free ones available for personal use:
Sygate Personal Firewall
ZoneAlarm

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
It is very important that you have anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. See this link for a listing of some online antivirus scanners:
Anti-Spyware Tutorial

Here are two very good free Antivirus products which are available:
Avast!
AVG

It is imperative that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.

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

In light of your recent troubles, I'm sure you'll like to avoid any future infections. Please take a look at these well written articles

HOW DID I GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE?
THE ANTI-SPYWARE TUTORIAL.
MAKING INTERNET EXPLORER SAFER.

Keep clean and enjoy your computing!

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