Thread: howiper.exe
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Old 04-27-2006, 06:25 PM   #5 (permalink)
tetonbob
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Transylvania County, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 35,583
OS: 2000 Pro; XP Pro; XP Home


We need to update your Java as it is out of date. The older version is most likely the cause of your infection, and it needs to be updated so that you do not contract this infection again.

Updating Java:
  • Go to Start > Control Panel double-click on the Software icon > add/remove programs.
  • Search in the list for all previous installed versions of Java. (J2SE Runtime Environment.... )
  • Select it and click Remove.
  • Then Download and install the newest version from here:
    http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

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Well done. Your logs are clean. Any more issues? If not you should be good to go. We still have a few items to address.


Reset hidden/system files and 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.

Create a new System Restore point
  • click Start >> Run - type SYSDM.CPL & press Enter
  • select the System Restore Tab
  • tick on the checkbox - "Turn off System Restore on all drives"
  • click Apply
  • then untick the same checkbox & click OK

Please ensure that you have already patched your system against the recent WMF exploit.
Go to this page to get the KB912919 patch.

Enable Windows Auto Update
  • Go to Start>Run - type wuaucpl.cpl
  • tick on the checkbox - "Keep my computer up to date"
  • Under settings, choose "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify".
  • Click on "OK".

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programs:
  • SpywareBlaster 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
  • SpywareGuard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.
  • SPYBOT - SEARCH & DESTROY
    Download and install 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 impair 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.
    • Download IE-SpyAD - Extract the contents to a new folder
      From within the folder, double-click install.bat
      Select Option #2 - Install the new IE-SPYAD list.
      Then return to the main menu.
      Select option #4 - Add the old porn sites domain


  • MVPS HOST FILE
    The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one that will restrict known ad sites form 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.
    • Download Host.zip to your desktop.
    • From your Desktop right-click (hosts.zip) and select:
      Extract All from the menu.
    • Click Next, click Next, select the option:
      "Show Extracted files", click Finish
    • This will open the newly created hosts folder on your Desktop.
    • Double-click on the included mvps.bat file, this will rename the existing HOSTS file to HOSTS.MVP, then it will copy the included updated HOSTS file to the correct location on your machine.


  • 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

  • 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

If you do not have a firewall, here are 4 free ones available for personal use:


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
If you want to fight back the Malware Writers that have made your life a misery, 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.
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