IEXPLORE.EXE trouble ~

[TooEasy]

HI there...
I am having the same problem like SUPERGANSOm, with this IEXPLORE.exe thing, trying to connect internet. Thats what Zone Alarm Pro is telling me whenever i start up my PC.. I usually End process in Task Manager, but it comes every time on startup again...
I use Kaspersky antivirus and Zone alarm pro, together, with several antispy programs, as an Yahoo, Ewido, and Reg. Mechanic too...

MY HijackThis log is:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 22:49:48, on 10.6.2006
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnd.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnf.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
D:\2. instalacije (setup)\_anti spy\HijackThis.exe

R3 - URLSearchHook: SweetIM For Internet Explorer - {BC4FFE41-DE9F-46fa-B455-AAD49B9F9938} - blank (file missing)
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: XBTBPos00 - {E552EEFC-DE97-45D4-BA1A-F534A1B4A579} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Morpheus Toolbar - {119DBEDA-9c41-4F97-94B4-B6BCD01133CF} - blank (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb08.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeviceDiscovery] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KAVPersonal50] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal\kav.exe" /minimize
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Share-to-Web Namespace Daemon] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Researcher - {9455301C-CF6B-11D3-A266-00C04F689C50} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Encarta Researcher\EROPROJ.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {B205A35E-1FC4-4CE3-818B-899DBBB3388C} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Encarta Search Bar\ENCSBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-611111193423} -
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-611111193429} -
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-615111193427} -
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://chat.msn.com/controls/msnchat45.cab
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O23 - Service: DirectX Service (DirectRekl) - Unknown owner - c:\windows\system32\directx.exe
O23 - Service: ewido security suite control - ewido networks - C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
O23 - Service: hpdj - Unknown owner - C:\DOCUME~1\Zelimir\LOCALS~1\Temp\hpdj.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: kavsvc - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal\kavsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

[greyknight17]

Welcome to TSF.

Please print the below instructions or copy them to Notepad.

Download CleanUp! http://cleanup.stevengould.org/ (Alternate Link if main link don't work - http://www.greyknight17.com/spy/CleanUp.exe ) and install it. CleanUp! deletes EVERYTHING out of your temp/temporary folders. It does not make backups. If you have any documents or programs that are saved in any Temporary Folders, make a backup of these before running CleanUp!. Run CleanUp! and click on the CleanUp! button. Let it run. After it's done, click the Close button and choose Yes to logoff.

Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode (if you don't know how, go to http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/foru...howtutorial=61 ). Make sure to close any internet browsers that may still be open.

Run a scan in HijackThis. Check each of the following if they still exist and hit 'Fix Checked' after you checked the last one:

R3 - URLSearchHook: SweetIM For Internet Explorer - {BC4FFE41-DE9F-46fa-B455-AAD49B9F9938} - blank (file missing)
O2 - BHO: XBTBPos00 - {E552EEFC-DE97-45D4-BA1A-F534A1B4A579} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Morpheus Toolbar - {119DBEDA-9c41-4F97-94B4-B6BCD01133CF} - blank (file missing)
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-611111193423} -
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-611111193429} -
O16 - DPF: {33331111-1111-1111-1111-615111193427} -
O23 - Service: DirectX Service (DirectRekl) - Unknown owner - c:\windows\system32\directx.exe
O23 - Service: hpdj - Unknown owner - C:\DOCUME~1\Zelimir\LOCALS~1\Temp\hpdj.exe (file missing)

Go to Start->Run and type in notepad and hit OK. Then copy and paste the following into Notepad:

sc stop DirectRekl
sc delete DirectRekl
del delete.bat

Save the file as "delete.bat". Make sure to save it with the quotes. Double click on it.

Locate the following Files/Folders and delete them if they exist (if no location given, just do a search for them):

c:\windows\system32\directx.exe - this is a file you are deleting, not a folder

Restart. Perform an online scan with Internet Explorer at Panda ActiveScan http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

* Click on 'Scan your PC' button. There should be a popup - if you have a pop-up blocker, make sure it's not blocking it.
* Click 'Check Now' & a pop-up window will appear.
* Enter your Country, State and E-mail Address & click 'Scan Now' - begin downloading Panda's ActiveX controls (8 MB size).
* Begin the scan by selecting My Computer.
* If it finds any malware, it will offer you a report. Ignore any entry it finds (since it wants you to buy the program for removal) as we will address this later.
* Click on see report. Then click Save report.
* Post that log in your next reply along with a new HijackThis log.

[TooEasy]

Yeah, i did Clean up!, restarted in safe mode, and all the things in the list you gave me was still there and i did "FixChecked" to them all! Then, i did exactly what u told me to do except the last thing on the list. I didnt installed PANDA antivirus on my PC, but hey, IEXPLORE.EXE does NOT shows up anymore after few restarts, so i need to ask you is that PANDA step really neccesery now??
1 more question. After 1st return in normal windows startup mode, SystemConfigUtility, alerted me about the type of StartUp i perform. They suggest me to change my startup mode to LOAD ALL DEVIES, instead of selective (with modified boot.ini as it started up after i did what u suggested me to do...

Anyway, my HijackThis log looks like this now:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:47:49, on 11.6.2006
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnd.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnf.exe
C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\YPager.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
D:\2. instalacije (setup)\_anti spy\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb08.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeviceDiscovery] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\Digital Imaging\bin\hpotdd01.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KAVPersonal50] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal\kav.exe" /minimize
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Share-to-Web Namespace Daemon] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Share-to-Web\hpgs2wnd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Researcher - {9455301C-CF6B-11D3-A266-00C04F689C50} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Encarta Researcher\EROPROJ.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {B205A35E-1FC4-4CE3-818B-899DBBB3388C} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Encarta Search Bar\ENCSBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YPager.exe
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://chat.msn.com/controls/msnchat45.cab
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - "C:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\msgrapp.dll" (file missing)
O23 - Service: DirectX Service (DirectRekl) - Unknown owner - c:\windows\system32\directx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ewido security suite control - ewido networks - C:\Program Files\ewido anti-malware\ewidoctrl.exe
O23 - Service: kavsvc - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal\kavsvc.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe





Its been a plesant suprise the time you needed for replying me!!

[POADB]

Please perform the Panda scan. It will take around 45 minutes.

It's a neccessary step as Panda will show us what is left over, and we can then attack and remove what we need to.

We can not determine your system as clean without it.

[TooEasy]

Ok i did it. It took almost 2 hours, but i guess it was worth of it.
here is what it says:


Incident Status Location

Dialer:dialer.xd Not disinfected c:\windows\switchagreement.txt
Spyware:Cookie/Casalemedia Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@casalemedia[2].txt
Adware:Adware/SaveNow Not disinfected C:\Program Files\RadLight\RadLight3\RPKi\RPK.exe
Dialer:Dialer.ABR Not disinfected C:\WINDOWS\LastGood\Downloaded Program Files\start.INF

[POADB]

Go to Start > Run and type: regsvr32 /u occache.dll and click 'OK'.

Delete the following files:

• c:\windows\switchagreement.txt
  C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@casalemedia[2].txt
  C:\Program Files\RadLight\RadLight3\RPKi\RPK.exe
  C:\WINDOWS\LastGood\Downloaded Program Files\start.INF

Go to Start > Run and type: regsvr32 occache.dll and click 'OK'.

Are there any problems now?

[TooEasy]

WELL, my IEPLORE.EXE trouble deffinetly stopped, and thats why i am very thankful to you guys, but new PandaSCan found this:


Incident Status Location

Dialer:dialer.xd Not disinfected hkey_classes_root\clsid\{54645654-2225-4455-44A1-9F4543D34546}
Spyware:Cookie/YieldManager Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@ad.yieldmanager[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Advertising Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@advertising[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Casalemedia Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@casalemedia[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/FastClick Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@fastclick[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Hitbox Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@hitbox[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/QuestionMarket Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@questionmarket[1].txt
Spyware:Cookie/WUpd Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@revenue[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Advertising Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@servedby.advertising[2].txt
Spyware:Cookie/Zedo Not disinfected C:\Documents and Settings\Zelimir\Cookies\zelimir@zedo[2].txt

[POADB]

Go to Start->Run and type in regedit and hit OK. Go to File->Export and save the registry somewhere as a backup. Close the Registry Editor now. Go to Start->Run and type in notepad and hit OK. Then copy and paste the following into Notepad:

REGEDIT4

[-hkey_classes_root\clsid\{54645654-2225-4455-44A1-9F4543D34546}]

Save the file as "delete.reg". Make sure to save it with the quotes. Close Notepad. Double click on the delete.reg file and choose Yes to merge/add it to the registry. You may delete the file afterwards.

Use Cleanup! regularly to clean out Temporary files/cache and cookies.

Your system is clean. Kindly follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

1. CLEAR & RESET SYSTEM RESTORE'S CACHE - (System Volume Information folder)
   Go to Start >> Run - type control sysdm.cpl,,4 & press Enter
   • Tick on the checkbox - Turn off System Restore on all drives
   • Click Apply
   Turn it back 'On' by unticking the same checkbox & click OK
   
   
   
2. DISABLE THE VIEWING OF SYSTEM FILES
   From Windows Explorer, go to Tools>Folder Options> View tab.
   • Untick - Show hidden files and folder
   • Tick - Hide file extensions for known types
   • Tick - Hide protected operating system files
   Click Yes to confirm & then click OK
   
   
   
3. SECURING INTERNET EXPLORER
   From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Internet Options.
   • Select the Security tab
     • Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
     • Select Custom Level .
       • Change 'Download signed ActiveX controls' to Prompt
       • Change 'Download unsigned ActiveX controls' to Disable
       • Change 'Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe' to Disable
       • Change 'Installation of desktop items' to Prompt
       • Change 'Launching programs and files in an IFRAME' to Prompt
       • Change 'Navigate sub-frames across different domains' to Prompt
       • When all these changes have been made, click on the OK button.
     • If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
   • Select OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
   
   
   
4. 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 & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
   
   Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
   
   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.
   
   
   
5. FIREWALL
   Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. A tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones can be found here.
   
   
   
6. Microsoft Windows Update
   Visit windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer always has the latest security updates. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
   
   
   
7. 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
   
   
   
8. 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
   
   
   
9. SPYWAREBLASTER
   SpywareBlaster prevents the installation of malicious ActiveX, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software. Blocks spyware/tracking cookies & restricts the actions of potentially unwanted sites.
   
   Unlike other programs, SpywareBlaster does not have to remain running in the background. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here
   
   
   
10. 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. A tutorial on installing this product can be found here
    
    
    
11. 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 coputer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is the IP of your local computer. It can be downloaded here - MVPS Hosts file

Update all these programs regularly. Make sure you update all the programs I have listed 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. Here are some additional utilities that will further enhance your safety.

• Trillian or Miranda-IM - These are Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN)
  
  
• Firefox - Use this alternate browser. Whilst Internet Explorer is not a bad browser, almost every exploit crafted is targeted to take advantage of an IE weakness.
  
  
• Sun's Java - It's much more secure than Microsoft's Java Virtual Machine.
  
  
• Google Toolbar - Get the free google toolbar to help stop pop up windows.
  
  
• CleanUP! - Cleans temporary files from IE and Windows, empties the recycle bin and more. Great tool to help speed up your computer and knock out those nasties that like to reside in the temp folders.
  
  
• ERUNT - A useful freeware utility for users of Windows 2000/XP. It's made up of two parts - ERUNT & NTREGOPT.
  
  ERUNT will create daily complete backups of your computer's Registry. Whilst System Restore does the same thing, a corrupt registry file may prevent Windows from booting & this effectively renders disables System Restore. With ERUNT, you're able to restore the damaged Registry.
  
  NTREGOPT works by recreating each registry hive "from scratch", thus removing any slack space that may be left from previously modified or deleted keys. In other words, it compacts the Registry to a small size which allows Windows to load & perform faster.
  
  
• 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

To find out more information about how you got infected in the first place and some great guidelines to follow to prevent future infections you can read this article by Tony Klein

After doing all these, your system will be optimised against future threats.

It's okay to delete the Hijack This folder in a couple weeks if everything is working okay.
Have a safe & happy computing day.

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

[TooEasy]

YES, everything works Excellent now, thanx to you, guys!!!

IT is so good to have you ppl around when all those "unwanted" things makes our machines go crazy...

Thanx a lot, one more time, and Wish you all Best Luck in everything you do!

TooEasy ;)