Spyware

[tetonbob]

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.

Your Java is out of date. Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system. Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components and update.

Updating Java:

• Download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 5.0 Update 9.
• Scroll down to where it says "The J2SE Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users to run Java applications".
• Click the "Download" button to the right.
• Check the box that says: "Accept License Agreement".
• The page will refresh.
• Click on the link to download Windows Offline Installation with or without Multi-language and save to your desktop.
• Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
• Go to Start > Control Panel double-click on Add/Remove programs and remove all older versions of Java.
• Check any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE) in the name.
• Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
• Repeat as many times as necessary to remove each Java versions.
• Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
• Then from your desktop double-click on jre-1_5_0_09-windowsi586-p.exe to install the newest version.

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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

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.
  
  Here are a few very good free Antivirus products which are available:
  • AOL Active Virus Shield (powered by Kaspersky Antivirus)
  • Avast!
  • AVG
  • Avira PersonalEdition Classic
  Select one of these, or another of your choice. Do not install more than one antivirus program because they will conflict with each other. 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 new malware that may have come out.

See this link for a listing of some online antivirus scanners:

Anti-Spyware Tutorial

If you do not have a firewall, here area couple of free ones available for personal use:

• ZoneAlarm
  
• OutPost Firewall

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

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.

[bigbhoy77]

Thanks for all your time, help and knowledge on these matters they have been greatly appreciated.


Thanks again

bb77

p.s i will follow all your last post so hopefully i will not be bothering you again.