Windows Explorer Has Encountered A Problem And Needs To Close

[POLYBEAR]

Hi, this is my first post on the Forum, so i hope i do it right! I hope someone out there can help please.
I've had my Packard Bell Home p.c. for a few months now. It's recently started giving random "WINDOWS EXPLORER HAS ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO CLOSE" error messages. One way i've found that often causes this is when using the START - Search-All Files and Folders facility (I usually insert something like MICKEY when i want to see if the fault will occur) though it can happen whenever it feels like it. The error signature data is as follows:-

APPNAME: explorer.exe
APPVER: 6.0.2900.2180
MODVER: 6.0.2900.2861
OFFSET: 0007 a21f (Note: this changes)
MOD NAME: wininet.dll
files:\DOCUME~1\BRIAN\LOCALS~1\Temp\97ca_appcompat.txt

I've got full ZONEALARM INTERNENT SECURITY SUITE, SPYBOT, AD-AWARE, WINDOWS DEFENDER - all are at the latest updates and come up clean. I'm using WINDOWS XP HOME SP2 with all the latest updates, plus Office 2000. I've also got CCLEANER - I ran an ISSUES scan and temporarily disabled everything without success.

I've run thru' the 5 STEP PROCESS on the HIGHJACKTHIS LOG HELP. Here's what happened:
Step 1: I used Zonealarm and Spybot, in Normal Mode. Hope this is o.k.

Step 2: I ran all six listed Anti-virus/spyware scans, in the order listed. TREND came up with "KEYL.SE.71724" (now deleted - though an internet search shows this could be a false alarm anyway). Also it came up with "RTF DOCUMENT LINKED TO TEMPLATE CAN RUN MACROS WITHOUT WARNING (MS01-028) - now fixed by updating MSOFFICE to the latest standard.
The only other scan to find anything was PANDA - "C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\BRIAN\DESKTOP\REGISTRY CLEANER.LNK" - it listed it under the heading of a "Hacking Tool & Potentially Unwanted Program". I've unistalled REGISTRY CLEANER using the XP "Add or Remove Programs" facility.

Step 3: No Malware found.

Step 4: No Rogue/Suspect Programs found.

Step 5: Windows XP lives on automatic updates.

Step 6: I've now got a HIGHJACK THIS LOGFILE (with everything in the STARTUP tab checked & all open windows/browser windows closed down - including disabling ZONEALARM) - is there anyone out there that can help with this please? Just one thing - I'm no Computer Wizard so please go easy on me! Thanks.

POLYEAR

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 22:55:17, on 21/05/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
c:\APPS\Powercinema\Kernel\TV\CLCapSvc.exe
c:\APPS\Powercinema\Kernel\TV\CLSched.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\CLML_NTService\CLMLServer.exe
c:\APPS\HIDSERVICE\HIDSERVICE.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\CLML_NTService\CLMLService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\slserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\Apps\Powercinema\PCMService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hphmon05.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
C:\Program Files\Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslstat.exe
C:\Program Files\Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslagent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\GENIUS~1\GNETMOUS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\Event Manager\EEventManager.exe
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Jessops\Picture Suite\InsDetect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
C:\Garmin\gStart.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\sistray.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\1033\msoffice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\BRIAN\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = file://C:\APPS\IE\offline\uk.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Packard Bell
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Netcraft Toolbar - {D554D8FC-B36D-4BB4-93DB-4A3394D505E3} - C:\Program Files\Netcraft Toolbar\nctb.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiSPower] Rundll32.exe SiSPower.dll,ModeAgent
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCMService] "c:\Apps\Powercinema\PCMService.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHUPD05] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\{5372B9A6-6E51-4f90-9B40-E0A3B8475C4E}\hphupd05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPHmon05] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hphmon05.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DSLSTATEXE] C:\Program Files\Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslstat.exe icon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DSLAGENTEXE] C:\Program Files\Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mouseElf] C:\PROGRA~1\GENIUS~1\GNETMOUS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EEventManager] C:\Program Files\EPSON\Creativity Suite\Event Manager\EEventManager.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InCD] C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ALUAlert] C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUNOTIFY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002ASync] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /SYNC
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PHIME2002A] C:\WINDOWS\system32\IME\TINTLGNT\TINTSETP.EXE /IMEName
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IMJPMIG8.1] "C:\WINDOWS\IME\imjp8_1\IMJPMIG.EXE" /Spoil /RemAdvDef /Migration32
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Jessops Insert Detect] C:\Program Files\Jessops\Picture Suite\InsDetect.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [gStart] C:\Garmin\gStart.exe
O4 - Startup: CleanCache3Startup.lnk = C:\Program Files\CleanCache 3.0\CleanCache.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: Utility Tray.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\system32\sistray.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\npjpi142_05.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_05\bin\npjpi142_05.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=file://C:\APPS\IE\offline\uk.htm
O16 - DPF: {01010E00-5E80-11D8-9E86-0007E96C65AE} (SupportSoft SmartIssue) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/tech...rl/tgctlsi.cab
O16 - DPF: {01012101-5E80-11D8-9E86-0007E96C65AE} (SupportSoft Script Runner Class) - https://www-secure.symantec.com/tech...rl/tgctlsr.cab
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {1F2F4C9E-6F09-47BC-970D-3C54734667FE} (LSSupCtl Class) - http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/ctrl/LSSupCtl.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/S...in/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {5D86DDB5-BDF9-441B-9E9E-D4730F4EE499} (BDSCANONLINE Control) - http://download.bitdefender.com/reso...an8/oscan8.cab
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/S.../bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...?1144341637906
O16 - DPF: {7B297BFD-85E4-4092-B2AF-16A91B2EA103} (WScanCtl Class) - http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/v...fo/webscan.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://acs.pandasoftware.com/actives...ree/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/asa/ctrl/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {EF791A6B-FC12-4C68-99EF-FB9E207A39E6} (McFreeScan Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/is...64/mcfscan.cab
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLacsd.exe
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: CA ISafe (CAISafe) - Computer Associates International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\isafe.exe
O23 - Service: Canon Camera Access Library 8 (CCALib8) - Canon Inc. - C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
O23 - Service: CyberLink Background Capture Service (CBCS) (CLCapSvc) - Unknown owner - c:\APPS\Powercinema\Kernel\TV\CLCapSvc.exe
O23 - Service: CyberLink Task Scheduler (CTS) (CLSched) - Unknown owner - c:\APPS\Powercinema\Kernel\TV\CLSched.exe
O23 - Service: CyberLink Media Library Service - Cyberlink - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\CLML_NTService\CLMLServer.exe
O23 - Service: Generic Service for HID Keyboard Input Collections (GenericHidService) - Unknown owner - c:\APPS\HIDSERVICE\HIDSERVICE.exe
O23 - Service: InCD Helper (InCDsrv) - Ahead Software AG - C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: InCD Helper (read only) (InCDsrvR) - Ahead Software AG - C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCDsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: SmartLinkService (SLService) - - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\slserv.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

[POLYBEAR]

Bump

Polybear

[POLYBEAR]

Bump2

[Ried]

Hello POLYBEAR and welcome to TSF,

Our sincere apologies for the oversight on your log. Judgeing by the number of replies listed at first glance, it appeared your log was being tended to.

I'm not seeing anything in your log. Let's use some tools to see if we can reveal anything.

Please copy this page to Notepad and save to your desktop for reference as you will not have any browsers open while you are carrying out these instructions.

Make sure to work through the instructions in the exact order it is mentioned below.

*************************************************

Before we begin, please move HiJackThis to it's own folder, like c:\HJT. When we're done 'cleaning' off your system, we're going to 'flush' the temporary folders which, with HiJackThis in it's current location, we'll lose both the program and the backups it creates. These backups are important in case we need to restore any 'fixed' entry(s) later.

*************************************************

Download Ewido Security Suite

• Install Ewido Security Suite
• When installing, under "Additional Options" uncheck..
  • Install background guard
  • Install scan via context menu
• Double-click the icon on Desktop to launch Ewido

You will need to update Ewido to the latest definition files.

• On the left hand side of the main screen click update.
• Then click on Start Update.

The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
If you are having problems with the updater, you can use this link to manually update Ewido
When you have finished updating, EXIT Ewido.


Download and install CleanUp! but do not run it yet. (Not Recommended for XP64).


Finally, please download SmitfraudFix (by S!Ri)

Extract the content (a folder named SmitfraudFix) to your Desktop. Do not run it yet.

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

Disconnect from the internet.

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

*WARNING* Cleanup deletes EVERYTHING out of temp/temporary folders and does not make backups. If you have any documents or programs that are saved in any Temporary Folders, please make a backup of these before running CleanUp! or move them to a permanent location.

Open Cleanup! by double-clicking the icon on your desktop (or from the Start > All Programs menu). Set the program up as follows:
*Click "Options..."
*Move the arrow down to "Custom CleanUp!"
*Put a check next to the following:

• Empty Recycle Bins
• Delete Cookies
• Delete Prefetch files
• Cleanup! All Users
• Click on the "Temporary Files" and uncheck the box for "Scan drives for file matching" if it's checked.

Click OK
Press the CleanUp! button to start the program. Reboot/logoff when prompted, and go directy to Safe Mode.

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

Reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Use the up arrow key to highlight Safe Mode and press Enter.

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

Run Ewido with it's updated definitions:(...it's important that all windows must be closed)

• Click Scanner
• Click Complete System Scan to begin scanning.
• Click OK when prompted to clean files

With the first file it prompts to clean, select the option:

• "Perform action on all infections"
• Choose clean and click OK.

Once finished, click the Save report button & save the report to your desktop

** Ewido scan would require at least an hour. Ewido is compatible with most AV and anti-spyware products, and the free version will continue to be useful as a second anti-malware scanner.

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

Reboot into Normal Mode.

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

Open the SmitfraudFix folder and double-click smitfraudfix.cmd
Select option #1 - Search by typing 1 and press "Enter"
and a text file will appear which lists infected files (if present).
Please copy/paste the content of that report into your next reply.


IMPORTANT: Do NOT run option #2 OR any other option until you are directed to do so!

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

Perform an online scan using Internet Explorer with Panda ActiveScan
** click on "Free use ActiveScan" located on the top right hand corner

1. Click Check Now & a 'pop up' window shall appear. *ensure that your pop up blocker doesn't block it
2. Enter your e-mail address, country, and state & click Scan Now ...begins downloading 8 MB Panda's ActiveX controls

Begin the scan by selecting My Computer

• If it finds any malware, it will offer you a report.
• Please ignore any entry it finds and wants you to buy the program for removal as we will address this later.
• Click on see report. Then click Save report

In your next reply, I'll need the following:

Ewido results
Panda results
SmitfraudFix log
New HijackThis log

[POLYBEAR]

Thanks for getting back to me - I've also taken similar advice from another Forum (see http://forums.windowsforum.org/index...howtopic=25034) (I ran Ewido, followed by Panda Active Scan - both of which reported no problems - then ran AproposFix).
After posting the resulting HJT Logs the expert opinion was that the problem wasn't Malware related.
They then recommended running CCleaner - this (I hope!) seems to have cured the problem, with no further Windows Explorer problems since.
I'll keep your reply on file (just in case the problem reappears) but for the moment I'll leave everything as-is (if it ain't busted don't fix it!) because I don't want to waste your time chasing a problem which (I hope) is no longer there; there could be someone else out there who needs your advice. Thanks for everything.
Polybear.

[Ried]

Hi POLYBEAR,

Thank you for letting me know you've received help elsewhere, that was very considerate.

I am in agreement that all the steps I've given you need not be done, with the exception of the SmitfraudFix by S!Ri. As the one user commented in your thread, Trojan Zlob--otherwise known as Smitfraud is known to infect the wininet.dll, hence my step mentioned above for producing that log.

While you may not have any symptoms at the moment, if there are any Smitfraud related files lurking about your system, they will eventually work their way back to the surface. If you don't mind, I'd like you to follow that step for running SmitfraudFix Option 1. Option #1 will not do anything to your system, it will simply scan for any traces of that particular malware and produce a report for our review.

[POLYBEAR]

Hi again.
Thanks for the reply - here's my SmitfraudFix report:

POLYBEAR

SmitFraudFix v2.49b

Scan done at 15:53:38.64, 28/05/2006
Run from C:\Documents and Settings\BRIAN\Desktop\SmitfraudFix\SmitfraudFix
OS: Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] - Windows_NT
Fix ran in normal mode

»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\WINDOWS


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\WINDOWS\system


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\WINDOWS\Web


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\WINDOWS\system32


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\WINDOWS\system32\LogFiles


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\Documents and Settings\BRIAN\Application Data


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Start Menu


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\DOCUME~1\BRIAN\FAVORI~1


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Desktop


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» C:\Program Files


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Corrupted keys


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Desktop Components

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Components\0]
"Source"="About:Home"
"SubscribedURL"="About:Home"
"FriendlyName"="My Current Home Page"


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Sharedtaskscheduler
!!!Attention, following keys are not inevitably infected!!!

SrchSTS.exe by S!Ri
Search SharedTaskScheduler's .dll

»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Scanning wininet.dll infection


»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» End

[Ried]

Hi POLYBEAR,

Looks good, I see no evidence of Smitfraud. Again, if you don't mind, I have some information you may find interesting.

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? 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

More information and free downloads are available at the following links:

Download SpywareBlaster 3.5.1 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.

Download IE-SPYAD.EXE to block access to malicious websites so you cannot be redirected to them from an infected site or email. This is a self-extracting .ZIP file, and save it to your desktop. Once downloaded, double-click on it to extract the files inside (default dir is C:\IE-SPYAD)
From within the folder, double-click install.bat
Select Option #2 - Install the new IE-SPYAD list, by typing 2
Then return to the main menu.
Select option #4 - Add the old porn sites domain, by typing 4


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

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

Happy and safe surfing to you.

[POLYBEAR]

Hi Ried,
That's really good to know.
Currently I'm running the following (which are all kept updated):

ZONEALARM PRO
SPYBOT
AD-AWARE SE
WINDOWS DEFENDER
SPYWAREBLASTER
SIMPLE FILE SHREDDER
CLEANCACHE 3.0
CCLEANER
EWIDO ANTI-MALWARE (FREE VERSION)
SPYWAREGUARD

I also use FIREFOX (with a NETCRAFT Toolbar) in place of INTERNET EXPLORER wherever possible.

Have I missed anything please?
Also, can I use the IE-SPYAD.EXE that you mentioned, bearing in mind that I'm using FIREFOX as my primary Internet Browser?
Thanks.

POLYBEAR.

[Ried]

Hi POLYBEAR,

You have a great set up there. IESpyAd is designed for Internet Explorer only. It's up to you if you'd like to add that program to your arsenal as you do need to use IE for Microsoft Updates and online scanning.

[POLYBEAR]

Thanks Ried, I'll add IESpyad to my Internet Explorer, just to be sure.
Thanks for all your help, you've been great.

POLYBEAR.