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E-Liam
17th Jan 2004, 03:51
Hi there,

You'll see a thread starter on the list called noblues, and he linked to you from TechSupportForums (http://www.techsupportforum.com/index.php?s=), one of the sites along with TechSupportGuy (http://forums.techguy.org/index.php?s=) where I help deal with Internet Security.

Just thought I'd register, introduce myself, and pass on some advice if I may.

For general cleanups, I'd recommend Adaware and Spybot. This is my C+P of where to get them and how to configure them, if it helps.

You can download AdAware 6 181 from here (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/).

Before you scan with AdAware, check for updates of the reference file by using the "web update". Then ........

Make sure the following settings are made and on -------"ON=GREEN" From main window :Click "Start" then " Activate in-depth scan". Then......

Click "Use custom scanning options>Customize" and have these options on: "Scan within archives" ,"Scan active processes","Scan registry", "Deep scan registry" ,"Scan my IE Favourites for banned URL" and "Scan my host-files". Then.........

Go to settings(the gear on top of AdAware)>Tweak>Scanning engine and tick "Unload recognised processes during scanning". Then........"Cleaning engine" and uncheck "Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion" and check "Let windows remove files in use at next reboot" Then......

Click "proceed" to save your settings.

Now to scan it’s just to click the "Scan" button.

When scan is finished, mark everything for removal and get rid of it.

You can download Spybot - Search & Destroy, from here (www.tomcoyote.org/spybot): if you haven't already got the program.

Now press Settings, and Settings again. Go to the Webupdate section, and check "Display also available beta versions".

Now press Online, and search for, put a check mark at, and install all updates.

Next, close all Internet Explorer windows, hit 'Check for Problems', and have SpyBot remove all it finds marked RED.

If you have a homepage hijacker, then there's a chance that it's CoolWebShredder, especially if you get redirects to porn pages. If this is the case go here (http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip) and download, unzip then run CoolWebShredder.

CWS installs via the byte verifier exploit in M$ JavaVM so just surfing a page with an infected applet can install it with no user participation. So once you’ve run the above, it is vital that you go here (http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp), click Scan for updates in the main frame, and download and install all CRITICAL updates recommended.

You could also have a virus or two. To check, go here (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp) and run the online scan. Set to Autoclean when prompted.

If you've ever been on a tech forum, you'll see that we use a utility called Hijack This (http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip) to identify scumware.

It basically gives us a pretty good idea of what's going on inside your machine. The problem with using HJT is that you need a pretty good idea of what you're looking at, as fixing entries incorrectly could result in a screwed up machine.

Do all of the above, and if you still have problems, then I'd be happy to check out your HJT log.

Download 'Hijack This!' from here (http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip), unzip, doubleclick HijackThis.exe, and hit "Scan". When the scan is finished, click "Save Log", and copy and paste it in a reply. Don’t fix anything yourself yet, as a lot of the stuff on that list will be harmless or required.

I can't promise to have the time to do more than a few, but I'll do as many as I can.

Hope that lot helps.

Cheers

Liam

timmcat
17th Jan 2004, 05:11
Thanks E-Liam.

Most have been discussed at length in here over the last year or two but I'm sure some will have missed them.. its a good round up.

PPRuNe Towers
17th Jan 2004, 05:22
Nice and concise for the new FAQ??

Rob

Mac the Knife
17th Jan 2004, 14:26
Thanks E-Liam

Why don't you link to the downloads page at merijn.org rather than the download itself?

It's not that I don't trust you :E but I like to know where an executable download is coming from before I start....

How do I know you're the nice helpful chap you seem to be?

Cheers

Mac

E-Liam
17th Jan 2004, 16:45
Hi Mac,

Re: the links (and I've just tidied one up that wasn't one of my c+ps.. that's the problem with not using site tools to create hlinks) :) I've never thought about it being a problem, to be honest. The link's all go directly to Merijn's site, so the veracity of them should be good enough. The Adaware link is direct to Lavasoft, and the only one that isn't straight to the writer's site is Spybot.

When trying to sort out problems for people, and some may be only at the level of typing a shopping list, and a little light surfing, you have to keep it as simple as possible. This keeps it simple.. you ask them to download from here, and the program downloads.. one less thing for them to think about. :ok::)

It's a long time since I wrote all those (Like most of us, we have a few pages of C+Ps to post as applicable, as typing out the instructions on setting up Adaware in full each time would mean about one fix a day) :) so I may have linked away from Kolla's site because of some downloading problems.. ?? but Tom Coyote's site is a known and trusted one.

How do I know you're the nice helpful chap you seem to be?

Good question.. :D

I did put up links to two sites I work at as a sort of credential, (TSF - just joined, posted 80 odd times in a fortnight, and TSG - nearing 1000 posts, almost all concerned with security) and yes, I could have just copied a name to register here with; but if you are in any doubt, contact a mod on either site. Or, you could post a HJT log as an excercise. :eek:

Hope that helps,

Cheers

Liam

Naples Air Center, Inc.
18th Jan 2004, 04:01
Liam,

Nice post. Welcome to PPRuNe.

Take Care,

Richard

E-Liam
19th Jan 2004, 02:05
Hi Richard, and thanks for the welcome.

I thought I'd set up my options to receive email notification of replies, but I hadn't.. :(

Now that's done, I may actually reply a bit quicker next time.. :D

Cheers

Liam