It' wonderful to see your computer clean. Great job.
Now that you are clean, or seem to be, here are the simple steps to follow in order to keep your computer clean and secure.
Remember to re-enable Spysweeper
Remember to hide your system files again.
Start>My Computer>Tools>Folder Options>View
Under the Hidden files and Folders heading uncheck Show hidden files and folders.
check the Hide protected operating system files (recommended) option.
Click Yes] to confirm.
check the Hide file extensions for known file types.
Click OK.
Disable and Enable System Restore If you are using Windows ME or XP then you should disable and re-enable system restore to make sure that there are no infected files found in a restore point.
You can find instructions on how to disable and re enable system restore here:
Windows XP System Restore Guide
You can keep Ewido but it is a free trial product for 14 days. Since Ewido is a trial version, the realtime guard and automatic update will stop functioning after 14 days that is why we are not installing the guard so it will not interfere with the cleanup or the malware removal process. You can use Ewido as an on-demand scanner (recommended) but you will have to manually update the definition file each time you scan. If you decide to purchase Ewido, you can enable the 'Realtime Protect' and 'Automatic Update' functions by clicking on the 'Status' bar (Top left) and clicking on both items under "Your Security Status".
And that's all. But to help protect you against further infections, and also to help prevent criminals using your computer to infect other people's computers on the web, I recommend the following: (You may already have some of the items)
Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.
Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialise and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
When all these settings 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.
Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
Avoid illegal sites, because that's where most malware is present.
* Don't click on links inside popups.
* Don't click on links in spam messages claiming to offer anti-spyware software; because most of these so called removers ARE spyware.
* Download free software only from sites you know and trust. Because a lot of free software can bundle other software, including spyware.
Keep your antivirus-program up-to-date and do regular scans with it. Please make sure that you have only one active antivirus program on your system.
If you haven't got a antivirus, you can download and install one of the following free ones:
AntiVir here
AVG Free here
Avast here
It is essential to keep the anti-virus program fully updated. New virus infections are being produced all the time, and unless the program downloads the latest 'definitions', it cannot protect you against the newer versions. If you want to check for updates manually I'd recommended doing so at least once a week. However, a better option is to set the program to download and install updates automatically every time you are connected to the Internet. The first time you use it, please set it to perform a full system scan.
Keep your pestware-scanners up-to-date and do regular scans with them.
To keep your computer free of Spyware, Adware, Hijackers etc., download and install the following free pestware-scanners (if you haven't installed them allready):
AdAware here
Spybot here Remember to "immunize" after each update
Microsoft Antispyware here
Install realtime pestware-scanners and keep them up-to-date.
The following free realtime pestscanners prevent a number of malware-variants from entering your computer, in the first place:
SpywareBlaster here Remember to "enable all protection" after each update.
SpywareGuard here
If you haven't got one, already, install a firewall and keep it up-to-date. Please make sure that you have only one active firewall on your system.
A firewall will prevent unauthorized contact between your computer and internet.
If there is no firewall installed on your computer, you can download and install one of the following free firewalls:
ZoneAlarm here
Sygate here
Kerio Personal Firewall (Will be discontinued as from the end of 2005) here
Outposthere
Important: (Windows XP only) If you install a firewall, be sure to turn off the WinXP-firewall!
Test your firewall here to make sure that it's working properly
Install these programs, to make surfing with Internet Explorer safer:
A popup-blocker, f.e. Google Toolbar here: A popup-blocker prevents popup-windows from opening, when you come along a websites that uses them, during internet-surfing.
IE-SPYAD here: This utility adds a long list of known bad sites to Internet Explorer's Restricted Sites zone. This prevents those sites from executing their malicious programs on your computer.
Install and use an alternative browser to surf on the internet.
Because Internet Explorer is the most-used browser on the planet, most of the hijackers, adware and spyware are made to abuse your computer thru Internet Explorer.
Here are some good alternative browsers:
Mozilla Suite here
Mozilla Firefox here
Opera here
Netscape here
Important: You can not uninstall Internet Explorer.
First of all, it's part of Windows and you'll need it to download and install Windows Updates.
Secondly, There are some sites that are only accessable with Internet Explorer, fe. most of the Online Malware-scanners.
But above all, keep all your software UP-TO-DATE at all time!!
Also, I would recommend reading the excellent advice by Tony Klein: So how did I get infected in the first place
Happy and safe surfing. Have a happy holiday