Nice work. Your system seems to be clean again.
Just a few things to clean up some of what we used and a few preventative tips.
_____________________________This process is going to clean up some of the tools we have used.Open OTL.exe click on the cleanup button. You will be asked to reboot.
Please do so now to clean up some tools we used.
________________________________Please create a 'clean' System Restore Point:The reason for doing this is in case you need system restore you don't put back all we just took out.
- Click start/all programs /accessories/system tools/system restore
- Place a check mark by turn off system restore
- Windows will give you a warning click yes
- Click APPLY
- REBOOT the computer
- Once rebooted go right back to the same place and place a check mark by system restore
- Click APPLY and OK
_____________________________FirewallsA few words on Microsoft firewall in XP . It only works in one direction. Incoming.
That means if something gets by it you would never know it was trying
to contact the internet.
Example: A bad program installs itself. You would never know it was contacting the internet.
Downloading other nasties and so forth.
If you decide to run one of these you should be certain Microsofts firewall is disabled.
1. Click Start, click Run, type Firewall.cpl, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Off (not recommended).
3. Click OK.
I will list a few free firewalls for you. These are good (free) firewalls:
Never run 2 firewalls together. They will interfere with each other.
So just download and install one!
Online Armor Firewall Sunbelt Personal Firewall Free ______________________________________Windows UpdatesBe certain automatic updates are turned on via your control panel.
This will ensure your computer has always the latest
security updates available installed on your computer.
If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical/important updates.
I know rebooting sometimes can be at an inconvenient time. This will still take less time than we needed to fix your machine. ;-)
_________________________________
Replace your host fileWhat this does... A host file is a list of known bad sites.
When you click or type in a link the host file is checked first.
If that link you typed or clicked is in the host file your browser will redirect you to
http://127.0.0.1 .
A page on your computer. Go ahead and click that. Then use the back button to come back.
Download
HostsXpert v4.1 and unzip it to your desktop.
- Double click on HostsXpert.exe
- Click on Make writeable. (if Available) You should now see Make Readable.
- Then click on Download<< MVPs Hosts << Replace. If your firewall asks allow it.
Once it's done. - Click on Make Hosts Read Only to secure it against further infection.
_______________________________________Always watch closely to any software your installing.
If they want to install something more than their program stop right there and investigate what it is they want to place on your computer.
If they give you the option not to install it choose that until you investigate it completely.
The more you install that you don't want or need the more you'll wish you didn't.
Here's a good read, if you care to, on...
So how did you get infected in the first place ?
Safe and Happy Surfing.