This thread's last reply is from July 23, 2008, 5:28 PM UTC. Software, malware, and removal-tool
advice below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.
ChrisRLG
dtheall
The students and experts are asked to take the topics from that room first. Mostly because we know that you are more likely to respond, just because you have posted to that room.
But we do limit how many new topics an undergrad is able to handle at anyone time, so they have to wait till they have cleaned one topic before starting another once they are at thier limit.
Undergrads when learning will also 'pick and choose' topics they are happy to deal with. EG if they recognise an infection they may well be happier in picking that topic as they know the answer (or hope they do). Also those topics that look clean, are sometimes the hardest to find a problem with, some students try not to pick those sort.
Our experts (and students) actually work about 15-20 forums, and most of those forums have longer wait times than here, so they may well pick up 'clients/victims' from other boards when they have a space/time to do some, rather than from here, at least untill those topics get older.
We do archive the topics in that room, which is why it is hopefully always empty.
That being so, I am hopefull that one of the staff will be with you shortly.
dtheall
Thanks I hope to hear from someone soon! I'm quite anxious.
ChrisRLG
Looks like you have your expert assisting you.
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I did notice you are using two toolbars for IE which to a great extent duplicate each other. Also that one of them is installed as part of the install from AVG8 free (The Ask Toolbar). The other looks like you installed on your own (Google).
Java looks to be a problem too, it may well have been the infection vector. The expert will give you advice on that issue at some time.
dtheall
Hi. I removed the ASK toolbar on Carolyn's advice. She hasn't said anything about Java, I was going to remove the last update - what problem had you noticed with Java? I'll get rid of all extra toolbars.
ChrisRLG
The Sun Java problem is one caused by Sun.
They check for updates, and install the updates when found, but never remove old versions, such that you still have older versions installed, even if you have the latest version installed.
Programs are able to 'call' for the version of Java they would like, so malware has been written to call old vulnerable versions of Sun Java, so they can use that as a vector to install malware on your machine.
Some corporate software has been written such that it insists on using particular versions of Java. Bad programing. But because of that Sun decided to leave vulnerable versions on people machines, instead of getting the companies who program java applications to do it better.
The current latest version is 1.6.7, any other versions are suspect as being vulnerable, so could be used to infect your computer.
dtheall
I thought you meant that. I had read about it and try to keep up with removing older versions, but I don't always do it immediately. I periodically run Secunia, which will check for all older versions of programs. thanks!! Donna
dtheall
Carolyn I only asked about it here because it was mentioned but I'll follow your instructions in the Malware forum only. Didn't mean to offend you and my apologies if I did.
Hard to believe no one else is bumping but ok! I hope I get an answer soon too.....so tired of dealing with the constant computer/internet/hardware problems. I feel like I spend more time scanning, fixing, worrying, searching, dealing with new problems than just doing what I need to do. 
