[timzerofive]

Here's a hijackthis scan log. Can't get rid of this thing, please help.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 6:44:05 PM, on 1/2/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe
C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cidaemon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\twang\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dellnet.com
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - _{CA0E28FA-1AFD-4C21-A8DC-70EB5BE2F076} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {00000010-6F7D-442C-93E3-4A4827C2E4C8} - C:\WINDOWS\nem220.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {A5366673-E8CA-11D3-9CD9-0090271D075B} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\jccatch.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: FlashGet Bar - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\fgiebar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DadApp] C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DwlClient] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb04.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mediamotor.exe] C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [loads.exe] C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [pruthct] C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download All by FlashGet - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_all.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download using FlashGet - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_link.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Real.com (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: FlashGet (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &FlashGet (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://usercenter.co.../cx_tgctlcm.jsp
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell....iler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {023A3744-EA13-4C8A-8B23-ABF98974A9F5} (JoyOnPack Control) - http://gunbound.joyo...m/joyonpack.cab
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macr...director/sw.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://download.yaho...s/yinst0401.cab
O16 - DPF: {31B7EB4E-8B4B-11D1-A789-00A0CC6651A8} (Cult3D ActiveX Player) - http://www.cult3d.co...wnload/cult.cab
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com...kup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4C39376E-FA9D-4349-BACC-D305C1750EF3} (EPUImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg...l_v1-0-3-17.cab
O16 - DPF: {8714912E-380D-11D5-B8AA-00D0B78F3D48} (Yahoo! Webcam Upload Wrapper) - http://chat.yahoo.com/cab/yuplapp.cab
O16 - DPF: {8EDAD21C-3584-4E66-A8AB-EB0E5584767D} - http://toolbar.googl...gleActivate.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn...pDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macr...ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E0CE16CB-741C-4B24-8D04-A817856E07F4} (IObjSafety.DemoCtl) - http://cabs.media-mo.../cabs/alien.cab
O16 - DPF: {E855A2D4-987E-4F3B-A51C-64D10A7E2479} (EPSImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg...ol_v1-0-3-0.cab
O16 - DPF: {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - http://us.dl1.yimg.c...ebio5_1_3_0.cab
O16 - DPF: {F7A05BAC-9778-410A-9CDE-BFBD4D5D2B7F} (iPIX Media Send Class) - http://216.249.24.14...geWell-ipix.cab

[Advertisements]

Welcome to GeeksToGo Forums.

You may want to print out these instructions or save them to your desktop as a text file with Notepad because we will be restarting into Safe Mode later on in the fix and you might not be able to access the Internet.

Your version of HijackThis is out of date. Download the newest version, HijackThis v1.99.0.
Be sure to replace your old HijackThis.exe with this new one by saving over it.

Place a checkmark next to these entries, close all browsers and windows, and have HijackThis fix them by clicking Fix Checked:

R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - _{CA0E28FA-1AFD-4C21-A8DC-70EB5BE2F076} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {00000010-6F7D-442C-93E3-4A4827C2E4C8} - C:\WINDOWS\nem220.dll (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mediamotor.exe] C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [loads.exe] C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [pruthct] C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe
O16 - DPF: {E0CE16CB-741C-4B24-8D04-A817856E07F4} (IObjSafety.DemoCtl) - http://cabs.media-mo.../cabs/alien.cab

Reconfigure Windows XP to show hidden files:
Click Start. Open My Computer.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options. Select the View Tab.

Under the Hidden files and folders heading select "Show hidden files and folders".
Uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" option.
Uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option.
Click Yes to confirm. Click OK.

Boot into Safe Mode:
Restart your computer and immediately begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard.
If done right a Windows Advanced Options menu will appear. Select the Safe Mode option and press Enter.
To return to normal mode just restart your computer as you normally would.

Please delete these files using Windows Explorer(if present):

C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe

Now you can restart the computer normally.
Please run HijackThis again and post a fresh log, just so I can make sure that all the malware was deleted according to plan.

[LineOFire]

Welcome to GeeksToGo Forums.

You may want to print out these instructions or save them to your desktop as a text file with Notepad because we will be restarting into Safe Mode later on in the fix and you might not be able to access the Internet.

Your version of HijackThis is out of date. Download the newest version, HijackThis v1.99.0.
Be sure to replace your old HijackThis.exe with this new one by saving over it.

Place a checkmark next to these entries, close all browsers and windows, and have HijackThis fix them by clicking Fix Checked:

R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - _{CA0E28FA-1AFD-4C21-A8DC-70EB5BE2F076} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {00000010-6F7D-442C-93E3-4A4827C2E4C8} - C:\WINDOWS\nem220.dll (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mediamotor.exe] C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [loads.exe] C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [pruthct] C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe
O16 - DPF: {E0CE16CB-741C-4B24-8D04-A817856E07F4} (IObjSafety.DemoCtl) - http://cabs.media-mo.../cabs/alien.cab

Reconfigure Windows XP to show hidden files:
Click Start. Open My Computer.
Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options. Select the View Tab.

Under the Hidden files and folders heading select "Show hidden files and folders".
Uncheck the "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" option.
Uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option.
Click Yes to confirm. Click OK.

Boot into Safe Mode:
Restart your computer and immediately begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard.
If done right a Windows Advanced Options menu will appear. Select the Safe Mode option and press Enter.
To return to normal mode just restart your computer as you normally would.

Please delete these files using Windows Explorer(if present):

C:\WINDOWS\mmups.exe
C:\WINDOWS\suploads.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\pruthct.exe

Now you can restart the computer normally.
Please run HijackThis again and post a fresh log, just so I can make sure that all the malware was deleted according to plan.

[timzerofive]

Here's the new scan, thanks!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 10:20:09 PM, on 1/3/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Digital Line Detect\DLG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 8.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 8.0\shellmon.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 8.0\aolwbspd.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\twang\Desktop\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.dellnet.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = http://localhost;
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: IeCatch2 Class - {A5366673-E8CA-11D3-9CD9-0090271D075B} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\jccatch.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: FlashGet Bar - {E0E899AB-F487-11D5-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\fgiebar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DadApp] C:\Program Files\Dell\AccessDirect\dadapp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DwlClient] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Dell\EUSW\Support.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb04.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgcc32.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download All by FlashGet - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_all.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Download using FlashGet - C:\Program Files\FlashGet\jc_link.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0411.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {4528BBE0-4E08-11D5-AD55-00010333D0AD} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\yhexbmes0411.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\flashget.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: &FlashGet - {D6E814A0-E0C5-11d4-8D29-0050BA6940E3} - C:\PROGRA~1\FlashGet\flashget.exe
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://usercenter.co.../cx_tgctlcm.jsp
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell....iler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {023A3744-EA13-4C8A-8B23-ABF98974A9F5} (JoyOnPack Control) - http://gunbound.joyo...m/joyonpack.cab
O16 - DPF: {03F998B2-0E00-11D3-A498-00104B6EB52E} (MetaStreamCtl Class) - https://components.v...od/install.html
O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} (iPIX ActiveX Control) - http://www.ipix.com/viewers/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {31B7EB4E-8B4B-11D1-A789-00A0CC6651A8} (Cult3D ActiveX Player) - http://www.cult3d.co...wnload/cult.cab
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com...kup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4C39376E-FA9D-4349-BACC-D305C1750EF3} (EPUImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg...l_v1-0-3-17.cab
O16 - DPF: {8714912E-380D-11D5-B8AA-00D0B78F3D48} (Yahoo! Webcam Upload Wrapper) - http://chat.yahoo.com/cab/yuplapp.cab
O16 - DPF: {8EDAD21C-3584-4E66-A8AB-EB0E5584767D} - http://toolbar.googl...gleActivate.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn...pDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {E855A2D4-987E-4F3B-A51C-64D10A7E2479} (EPSImageControl Class) - http://tools.ebayimg...ol_v1-0-3-0.cab
O16 - DPF: {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - http://us.dl1.yimg.c...ebio5_1_3_0.cab
O16 - DPF: {F7A05BAC-9778-410A-9CDE-BFBD4D5D2B7F} (iPIX Media Send Class) - http://216.249.24.14...geWell-ipix.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{968497E3-40E2-431E-9D88-E6C1A78AF887}: NameServer = 198.81.19.134
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: AVG6 Service - GRISOFT s.r.o - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG6\avgserv.exe
O23 - Service: WAN Miniport (ATW) Service - America Online, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe

[LineOFire]

Everything looks great now! Good job!

Are you having any other problems?

[timzerofive]

nope, thanks! everything seems to be working.

[LineOFire]

Excellent. Glad we could help you. Thanks for cooperating with me.

Here are some tips, in order to reduce the potential for future malware infections.

• Secure Internet Explorer - The most common reason that malware installs itself is that your Internet Explorer security settings are set too low.
  • Open Internet Explorer.
  • Click on the "Tools" menu and select "Internet Options...".
  • If not already selected, select the "Security" tab.
  • Click on "Internet" so that it becomes highlighted and then click "Custom Level...".
  • In the "Reset to:" drop-down menu select "Medium".
  • Click "Reset" and choose "Yes" at the prompt to reset the security settings.
  • Click "OK" to return to the Security menu.
  • Repeat the same steps for "Local intranet", "Trusted sites", "Restricted sites" with these security settings:
    • "Local intranet" - "Medium-low"
    • "Trusted sites" - "Low"
    • "Restricted sites" - "High"
  • Finally, click "Apply" and then "OK" to apply the settings that you set.
• Windows Update - It is absolutely imperative that you stay on top of all updates to your operating system and browser. Malware authors and hackers make use of the many loopholes found in Microsoft's code. Keeping your system up to date is one of the most important steps in preventing infection.
• Spybot - Search & Destroy - Spybot - Search & Destroy is an excellent general anti-malware tool. It has the ability to scan your system for all kinds of malware and even offers TeaTimer and SDHelper in order to provide real-time protection from malware.
• Ad-Aware SE - Ad-Aware SE, like Spybot - Search & Destroy, is another general anti-malware solution which offers scanning. Both programs will often catch something the other cannot. It is best to use both of these wonderful programs in tandem so that you maximize the detection capabilities.
• SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster offers real-time protection against malicious ActiveX controls. This will stop most of the drive-by malware installations that have been very common recently. The best part is, this program does not need to run in the background, so it uses no resources!
• IE-SpyAd - IE-SpyAd attempts to stop malware infections by placing a huge list of known malicious sites into Internet Explorer's Restricted Sites list. If you accidentally come upon a harmful site, the Restricted Sites zone will hinder its maliciousness.
• HOSTS - The HOSTS file is the Windows solution to malware prevention. By placing harmful sites in the HOSTS file, you are effectively denying your computer access to the site, and denying the site access to your computer.
• Update Programs Regularly - Just as with your operating system and browser, the five aforementioned utlitlies are in need of constant updating. Malware changes everyday and is critical to be prepared at all times.
• Get A New Browser - The recent outburst of malware that has taken the Internet and the world by storm. More and more people are realizing that Internet Explorer is a terribly insecure browser. Since then, several great browsers have been developed to dull the blow of malware. Besides offering improved security, alternate browers supply many new features. These are the browsers I currently recommend: Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

I encourage you to at least consider following some of these steps. It is important that everyone learn how to combat these evil creations.