[DFS]

Yeah, it 'seems' to have been resolved. I have no idea how, I didn't do a dam thing except drive home??? Any ideas?
I clicked on extensions from the tools menu in Firefox and it just opened up an empty window basically.

Should I change my settings back now, the Windows Defender, hide hidden folders, etc. Can I trash the FixME file? What should I be on the lookout for now? All my scans the past few days have been pretty clean, cleaner than normal.

Thanks again!

Edited by DFS, 24 October 2006 - 05:53 AM.

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Great.

You can now fire up Windows Defender again.. You can remove the FixMe file whenever you want.. And I'll teach you later on how to hide hidden files/folders again.

Now that you're clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

1.) Re-Hide System Files and Folders:

• Click Start
• Open My Computer
• Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options
• Select the View tab
• Deselect the Show hidden files and folders option
• Select the Hide protected operating system files option
• Click Yes to confirm
• Click OK

2.) Reset and Re-enable your System Restore

We need to do this to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs from changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: (You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected)

• Click Start » Run » ( type: SYSDM.CPL ) » OK
• Click the System Restore tab.
• Check - Turn off System Restore.
• Click Apply.
• Uncheck - Turn off System Restore.
• Click OK.

You have now flushed your previous System Restore points, so we will make a new one again since your computer is already clean.

• Go to Start » All Programs » Accessories » System Tools, and select System Restore
• In the System Restore prompt, select: Create a restore point
• Click Next
• Give a description to the new Restore Point. (Something like: Clean PC)
• Click Create
• Then close the window

3.) How to Prevent Re-Infection

Please take your time reading on this list, it is full of great tools and utilities to help you understand how you got infected and how to keep from getting infected again.

• Windows Updates (a must!) - It is very important to make sure that both Internet Explorer and Windows are kept current with the latest critical security patches from Microsoft. To do this, open Internet Explorer, then and select Tools » Windows Update, and follow the online instructions from there.
• Spybot Search & Destroy - Uber powerful tool which can search and annhilate nasties that make it onto your system. Now with an Immunize section that will help prevent future infections.
• AdAware - Another very powerful tool which searches and kills nasties that infect your system. AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy compliment each other very well.
• SpywareBlaster - Great prevention tool to keep nasties from installing on your system.
• SpywareGuard - Works as a Spyware "Shield" to protect your computer from getting malware in the first place.
• 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.
• Firewall (a must!) - It is definitely a must have. Two good free versions are Kerio and ZoneAlarm.
• Anti-Virus (a must!) - It is also a must have. Two good programs are Avast and AVG, they're both free.
  Note: You must only use 1 (one) AV because if you have 2 AVs, it will conflict with each other and will only make your system slow.

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.

[Jag11]

Great.

You can now fire up Windows Defender again.. You can remove the FixMe file whenever you want.. And I'll teach you later on how to hide hidden files/folders again.

Now that you're clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

1.) Re-Hide System Files and Folders:

• Click Start
• Open My Computer
• Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options
• Select the View tab
• Deselect the Show hidden files and folders option
• Select the Hide protected operating system files option
• Click Yes to confirm
• Click OK

2.) Reset and Re-enable your System Restore

We need to do this to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs from changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: (You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected)

• Click Start » Run » ( type: SYSDM.CPL ) » OK
• Click the System Restore tab.
• Check - Turn off System Restore.
• Click Apply.
• Uncheck - Turn off System Restore.
• Click OK.

You have now flushed your previous System Restore points, so we will make a new one again since your computer is already clean.

• Go to Start » All Programs » Accessories » System Tools, and select System Restore
• In the System Restore prompt, select: Create a restore point
• Click Next
• Give a description to the new Restore Point. (Something like: Clean PC)
• Click Create
• Then close the window

3.) How to Prevent Re-Infection

Please take your time reading on this list, it is full of great tools and utilities to help you understand how you got infected and how to keep from getting infected again.

• Windows Updates (a must!) - It is very important to make sure that both Internet Explorer and Windows are kept current with the latest critical security patches from Microsoft. To do this, open Internet Explorer, then and select Tools » Windows Update, and follow the online instructions from there.
• Spybot Search & Destroy - Uber powerful tool which can search and annhilate nasties that make it onto your system. Now with an Immunize section that will help prevent future infections.
• AdAware - Another very powerful tool which searches and kills nasties that infect your system. AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy compliment each other very well.
• SpywareBlaster - Great prevention tool to keep nasties from installing on your system.
• SpywareGuard - Works as a Spyware "Shield" to protect your computer from getting malware in the first place.
• 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.
• Firewall (a must!) - It is definitely a must have. Two good free versions are Kerio and ZoneAlarm.
• Anti-Virus (a must!) - It is also a must have. Two good programs are Avast and AVG, they're both free.
  Note: You must only use 1 (one) AV because if you have 2 AVs, it will conflict with each other and will only make your system slow.

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.

[DFS]

Hey, thanks, I did the restore procedure and I have gathered most of those programs over the past few days already.

I got an alert from my firewall today the Spooler SubSystem is trying to access the internet. I don't know of this application, is it bad? I denied it.

Thanks again.

[Jag11]

My pleasure.

I got an alert from my firewall today the Spooler SubSystem is trying to access the internet. I don't know of this application, is it bad? I denied it.

No, that one is legit. It belongs to the printer.

[DFS]

Looks like I'm all good now. Thanks again! I learned a lot about computers in the past 3ish weeks.

[Jag11]

My pleasure!

[Jag11]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

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