iexplore.exe running each time I reboot/Please help

[peiraster]

Is it possible that no information at all was compromised? Or for sure some was compromised? And can I be 100% sure now that my system is malware free? Thanks

[Ried]

Even though the infection has been identified and we were able to kill what was found, because of it's backdoor functionality there is no way to be sure what information has been stolen from your system.

We cannot ever guarantee 100% that a system is malware free unless the system has been reformatted, reinstall the OS and never connected to the internet.

To the best of my abilities, from what I can see in your logs, your system appears clean.

[peiraster]

So, given what you know about my system, in my current state, would you recommend reformatting and reinstalling WinXP? And also, is it frequent for a malware to be stealthy to almost all known antimalware programs (Nod32, Kasperski, Norton, Lavasoft, Spybot, Spyware Doctor, Spysweeper,etc etc)?? If so, then from the moment you connect to the internet, and no matter how many antimalware software you might use, there's always a chance of being infected without knowing.. :(

[Ried]

So, given what you know about my system, in my current state, would you recommend reformatting and reinstalling WinXP?

Well, your current state has little bearing on my recommendation. Plain and simply, if it were me and my system had a backdoor trojan--I'd reformat and reinstall.

As far as your second question goes, sure. Malware writers come out with new files/folders/registry entries and ways to infect systems all the time. The AV and Anti Malware Companies cannot possibly cover every contingency. Malware writers come up with something new, the Anti Malware Community finds out and updates.

To be as safe as possible, it's a matter of keeping Windows XP updated, being careful of the sites you visit, and where you download programs from. File sharing such as P2P programs would also put anyone at an extra risk of infection.

Take a look at these well written articles:

PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need?

HOW DID I GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE? by Tony Klein
MAKING INTERNET EXPLORER SAFER
Understanding and Using Firewalls

[peiraster]

It's kind of ironic that we went through so much effort to fix this issue to avoid a reformat and once fixed we end up with the conclusion that reformatting/reinstalling is the best option. :)
I always keep Windows Updated, as well as everything else (Java, Flash, etc etc), I never open any file without scanning it before, always keep my firewall/AV updated and active, regularly check task manager for any suspicious background activity, keep minimum services started, and minimize startup programs to the minimum essential. Additionally I regularly scan for malware with various programs as you know. It seems all of this is not enough. I do however use P2P programs once in a while (uTorrent)...you mentioned this as being unsafe....maybe I should get another PC and use it only for unsafe practices like P2P and keep this one for productivity (online banking, etc).
Do you consider Windows Vista safer than WinXP? And what about Macs? Linux Ubuntu?
Thanks for those links. One more question: I assume that all the logs you made me post do not reveal any sensitive information about my system, specially since it's an open public forum, right? Thanks.

[Ried]

These questions would be better asked over in the General Computer Security section of this forum.

I would suggest beginning a thread there with your concerns so others can share their experiences, suggestions, and advice.

[peiraster]

Ried, as a final comment, I take this chance to thank you for your assistance in this case.

[Ried]

You're welcome, peiraster.