I totally understand that; I have had to switch browsers many times over the years.
Clean up of Malware Removal Tools
Now that we are through using these tools, let's clean them off your system so that should you ever need to have malware removed again (we hope not) fresh, updated copies will be downloaded.
If you did not do so at the end of its scan, please uninstall ESET Online Scanner at this time. You can use the Control Panel 'Add / Remove Programs' or 'Programs and Features' utility to uninstall it.
Download Delfix from here to your desktop and double click it to start the program
Ensure Remove disinfection tools is ticked
Also tick:
Activate UAC
Create registry backup
Purge system restore
Reset system settings
Click Run
The program will run for a few moments and then notepad will open with a log. Please paste the log in your next reply.
You can delete any log files left on your desktop as these are no longer needed.
Keep Windows Updated
Microsoft issues updates to Windows to close vulnerabilities as they are discovered. Staying updated helps protect your system from current exploits.
Click Start and then click Control Panel.
Click on the View by: in the upper right corner and select Large Icons (you can change this back later if you like).
Scroll down and click on Windows Update.
Click on Change settings.
Under Important Updates, click on Install updates automatically (recommended).
Select (click on) the other options on this page.
Select a day and time to have windows install the updates.
Click on Ok to change the settings.
If you want to change the view of the Control Panel display, click on the View by: in the upper right hand corner and select an option you prefer.
Keep other Important Programs Updated
Along with keeping Windows updated, it is a good idea to keep important programs updated. Java and Adobe Reader both need to be kept updated to the latest versions; malware writers utilize exploits in the unpatched versions to their advantages.
Java
Most security experts and the
US CERT (part of the US Homeland Security) now recommend that users uninstall Java from their systems; if you don't have any programs that need Java on your system, you are safe to do this. You can read some of the articles on this
here and
here. I strongly suggest you uninstall Java unless you need it run certain software; in that case I would recommend that you disable or unplug Java from your web browsers and only enable it when you need it.
To disable / unplug Java in your browsers:
To uninstall Java (on Win7):
Click Start and then click Control Panel.
If you need to, click View by: and select either Large Icons or Small Icons.
Click on Programs and Features.
Scroll down until you find Java and click on it to select that program.
(Older versions of Java may appear in the program list as J2SE, Java 2, Java SE or Java Runtime Environment.)
Click Uninstall.
If more than one version of Java shows in your program list, you should repeat the selection and uninstall until all of them are removed.
To check for the latest version of Java and installation steps:
Go to java.com and click on Do I have Java?.
On the next page, click on Verify Java Version.
If you get a security pop up entitled "Do you want to run this application?" with the Name: Java Detection and Publisher: Oracle America, Inc., click Run.
Follow the recommendations (if any) on the results screen.
If there is a new version (or none at all on your system), there will be a button on the page showing Agree and Start Free Download. Click on it to update or install Java.
The site will start a download of jxpiinstall.exe. Save the file to your desktop.
When the download is finished, close your browser.
Right click on the jxpiinstall.exe and select Run as Administrator.
On the opening window, check Change destination folder and then click Install>.
The program will now download the rest of the files needed to install Java.
On the Destination Folder window, click Next>.
On the next window, the install will present you the option of adding additional software (this is known as Foistware).
Uncheck the Set and keep Ask as my default search provider.
Uncheck the Install the Ask Toolbar.
Click Next> to finish the install.
When the installation is finished, you will be taken to a web page that will check to see if Java is working properly.
Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader is the second most targeted (by malware) common software. If all you ever do with Adobe Reader is view PDF files, then please consider replacing it with a lighter, free PDF reader that is not exploitable. One that we recommend is
Sumatra PDF.
To update Adobe Reader:
Launch your Adobe Reader.
Click Help and then click on About Adobe Reader from the menu list.
If the version is 11.0.04 then you are up to date. If it is less than this and you are keeping Adobe Reader, you should update to the latest version.
The best place to get Adobe Reader is from Adobe (click on Adobe to go there now).
Click on Download in the menu bar on top of the Adobe web page.
Click on Adobe Reader in the list on the right hand side of the page.
On the next page, click on the check mark (to turn it off) beside the option to include the McAfee scanner in the download and install. Make sure the check is NOT marked (this is another example of Foistware).
Click the Install Now button and follow the directions on next page.
If you are prompted to Save the installer file, choose to save it to your desktop. Once it is saved, right click on the file and select Run as Administrator.
When the installation is finished, you can delete the installer file on your desktop.
Consider a program that will check for out-of-date programs on your system
Some programs don't have update checks built in or make you run the application to start the check for updates process. An easier way to stay on top of the current versions of your installed programs is to use a version checking program like
Heimdal Free from Heimdal Security (you can get the software from
here and read more about it on the same page).
You are now done!
Now some information on programs to help keep you safe:
First, an Antivirus program. You NEED one; free is just as good as paid-for as long as you keep them updated. ONLY use one at a time as having more than that will cause system problems. Here are some free ones to check out:
Next, a firewall is a must have now-a-days. The built in firewall in Windows 7 is fine (just make sure it is turned on (Start > Control Panel > Windows Firewall)). Or, if you like, you could choose one of the free ones listed here:
=== options ====
Unchecky is a small service that runs in the background to help keep those "extra toolbars" and tag along search engines from automatically installing. By automatically directing you to a custom install with all the options unchecked, only what you manually choose and confirm gets installed.
CryptoPrevent is a free program that prevents CryptoLocker / ransomware from infecting your PC by locking down the OS so the malware can not get a grip on your system. You can read the details about this program
here.
Also, consider adding
MalwareBytes Antimalware to your arsenal of safe keeping programs. Use the
free version (not the paid or trial version) and you won't have a problem with your antivirus scanner program. Keep it
updated and run a scan with it once a week.
Lastly, if you use
Firefox as your main web browser, consider adding the
NoScript and
AdBlockPlus add-ons to the browser to block scripting hijacks and remove unwanted ads from the pages you view.
You may also find some information and tips at this thread:
and
I'll leave this topic open for a few days so that if you have any questions you can come back here. Surf safe, my friend!!