Hello wonderwill,
that all seemed to go ok other than Lop did not appear as an uninstallable program. I have deleted it though.
It does not show up always as a separate uninstall entry, seems to depend a little bit on the version of Messenger Plus installed.
... (at least until Sophie comes back!)
She's doing very well wonderwill, she manages to keep the PC rather clean.
Thanks for your help again and I have no doubt we will be communicating in the future.
You're welcome wonderwill, glad we could help you.
To be honest, your PC is already in a much better shape as the first time we did meet. And it stays rather clean, which pleases me and of course you a lot.
Just a reminder to keep your computer clean and secure:
Windows, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office Updates
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site frequently. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
If you are running Microsoft Office, or any application of it, go to the Microsoft's Office Update site and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed.
If you have trouble with Windows Update, you still can get all the Critical Updates, Security Fixes and Service Packs. Below are a few links to bookmark.
Microsoft Security Bulletins
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.aspx
Office downloads
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/offic ... fault.aspx
Download Center
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx
Microsoft Security Advisories
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/securi ... fault.mspx
Recently Published
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/securi ... fault.mspx
Make your Internet Explorer more secure
- From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
- Click on the Security tab
- Click the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
- Click on Default Level and click Ok
- Click 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.
Take the time to check out the following linksResources for using Internet Explorer 6
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=867470How to Configure Enhanced Security Features for Internet Explorer from Windows XP SP2
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/securi ... secxp.mspxMicrosoft Malicious Software Removal Tool
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwa ... ilies.mspxKeep your Sun Java up to dateThe most current version of Sun Java is:
Java Runtime Environment Version 5.0 Update 7To check if you have the latest version installed and get the needed updates, please go to the link below:
http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_automatic.jspYou'll need to use IE and allow ActiveX for this update. Follow the instructions on that page to check your Java Software.
Or you can get the manual download here:
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jspCheck in your Control Panel, under Add/Remove programs and uninstall ALL older versions of Sun Java. And in the future, remember to remove older versions of Java when you automatically update to a newer version to avoid exploitation of older versions left on your system.
Check out these topics for more information:
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=17910http://spywarewarrior.com/viewtopic.php?t=17598Free programs that may help you in keeping the PC clean- SpywareBlaster
SpywareBlaster will add a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
You can download SpywareBlaster here
A tutorial can be found here - SpywareGuard
It provides a degree of real-time protection solution against spyware that is a great addition to SpywareBlaster's protection method. An anti-virus program scans files before you open them and prevents execution if a virus is detected - SpywareGuard does the same thing, but for spyware. And you can easily have an anti-virus program running alongside SpywareGuard. It also features Download Protection and Browser Hijacking Protection.
You can download SpywareGuard here
A tutorial can be found here - IE-SPYAD
IE-SPYAD puts over 5000 sites in your restricted zone, so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all. It basically prevents any downloads, cookies, scripts from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites.
You can download IE-SPYAD here
A tutorial can be found here - Hosts File
A Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well known ad, spyware sites etc. Basically, this prevents your coputer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer.
A tutorial tutorial can be found here
- MVPS Hosts File
You can download the MVPS Hosts File here
Furthermore the website contains useful tips and links to other resources and utilities. - Bluetack's Hosts File and Hosts Manager
Essentially based on the research made by Webhelper, Andrew Clover and Eric L. Howes, it contains most if not all the known spyware sites, sites responsible for hijacks, rogue apllications etc...
Download Bluetack's Hosts file here
Download Bluetack's HostsManager here
Free Spyware Detection and Removal Programs- Ad-Aware
It scans for known spyware on your computer. These scans should be run at least once every two weeks.
You can download Ad-Aware here
A tutorial can be found here - Spybot - Search & Destroy
It scans for spyware and other malicious programs. Spybot has preventitive tools that stop programs from even installing on your computer.
You can download Spybot - S&D here
A tutorial can be found here
Before adding any other Spyware Detection and Removal programs always check the Rogue Anti-Spyware List for programs known to be misleading, mistaken, or just outright "Foistware".
You will find the list
hereEwidoRealtime protection against these threats:
- Hijackers and Spyware
Secure surfing in the Internet without fear of annoying changes of the start page of your browser, tracking cookies and advertising bars. - Worms
Nobody should receive e-mails in your name with malicious files in the appendix anymore. - Dialers
Security against all kinds of dialers. No fear when receiving the next phone bill. - Trojans and Keyloggers
No chance for thieves to steal your bank data and personal sensitive information by tapped Internet connections, remote controlled webcams or secret keyboard recordings.
Most of you will have already the trial version of this software, which is an excellent program and particularly good at catching trojans. If you find it useful you might want to consider buying the full program. When the trial period ends the following features will stop working:
- Scheduled scans.
- Real-time monitoring of the entire system.
- Memory Scan detects active threats.
- Self-protection at kernel layer guarantees gapless monitoring.
- Automatic online-update.
The manual memory scan will work in the free version and you can manually update the definitions by clicking on the "Start Update" button under Manual update in the update module.
You can download Ewido
hereEwido manual updates.
Download the
Full database to your Desktop or to your usual Download Folder and install it by double clicking the file. Make sure that Ewido is closed before installing the update.
WinPatrolWinPatrol uses a heuristic approach to detecting attacks and violations of your computing environment. Traditional security programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified threats. WinPatrol takes snapshot of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge. You'll be removing dangerous new programs while others download new reference files.
- Detect & Neutralize Spyware.
- Detect & Neutralize ADware.
- Detect & Neutralize Viral infections.
- Detect & Neutralize Unwanted IE Add-Ons.
- Detect & Restore File Type Changes.
- Automatically Filter Unwanted Cookies.
- Avoid Start Page Hijacking.
- Detect changes to HOSTS & critical system files.
- Kill Multiple Tasks that replicate each other, in a single step!
- Stop programs that repeatedly add themselves to your Startup List!
Starting with WinPatrol 9.5 PLUS users also get the addition of Real-time Infiltration Detection so they'll know immediately when changes are made to critical system areas. WinPatrol Free is not demo or trial software. You're welcome to use it as long as you like.
You can download WinPatrol
hereWinPatrol
FAQSiteHound by FiretrustFiretrust introduces the SiteHound Toolbar - the safe way to browse the Internet. With SiteHound, when you browse the Internet, you're shown a warning page every time you go to a site which is a known scam, potentially loads viruses or spyware on to your computer, has questionable content or anything you would not consider reasonable. You are shown a warning page with information about that site. From there you can choose to enter the site or go back. SiteHound is a
free add-on to Internet Explorer. (Users of Firefox - a version for you is coming soon.) SiteHound's comprehensive database gathers the knowledge from other users and respected experts from the online security community to tell you which sites are real and which are bogus.
SiteHound will alert you when you enter a site which is known to contain:
- Fraudulent claims or scams
- Offensive material
- Security vulnerabilities
- Spyware or Adware
- Spam related material
- or other content deemed to be unsafe
Specifically, SiteHound blocks these categories:
• Adult • Spyware • Spam Advertising • Phishing • Possible scam or fraud • Misleading or False Advertising
• Pharming • Rogue or Suspect Product • Adware • Malware or Virus
System Requirements:
Internet Explorer 5.5+ and Windows 95/98/NT 4/ME/2000/XP
Product Info & Download:
SiteHound Toolbar
For advanced users : ProcessGuard
ProcessGuard blocks rootkits, prevents spyware, guards your computer from DLL trojans...
For more information take a moment to read the
Introduction and the
Known Attacks information pages.
You can download Process Guard
here
Use an AntiVirus Software
It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. See the link below for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs.
Computer Safety On line - Anti-Virus
http://www.malwareremoval.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=53#53
Update your Anti Virus Software
It is imperative that you update your Anti virus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your anti virus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
Use a Firewall
I can not stress enough how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. For an article on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below.
Computer Safety On line - Software Firewalls
http://www.malwareremoval.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=56#56
A tutorial on
Understanding and Using Firewalls can be found
here
Additional Information
For more information about Spyware, the tools available, and other informative material, including information on how you may have been infected in the first place, please check out
this link.
A very nice collection of tutorials is available at Bleeping Computer
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/
Finally, after following up on all these recommendations, why not run Jason Levine's Browser Security Tests ?
They will provide you with an insight on how vulnerable you might still be to a number of common exploits.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
Happy surf and greeting to Sophie.
Take care,
Kim
by wonderwill » July 13th, 2006, 3:38 pm 
