[RESOLVED] Slow computer and bogus emails

[Chuckers]

One thing I have noticed is she has google as her home page. Using IE. Ie opens and google is in the address bar but IE doesn't go anywhere. I can set virtualdr as the home page and it works fine. I also tried typing in www.google.com and IE says "Navigation was cancelled". I think this started after combofix.

[Broni]

Update Adobe Flash Player: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Make sure you UN-check Yes, install McAfee Security Scan Plus

NOTE 1: Beginning with Adobe Flash Version 11.3, the universal installer includes the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Flash Player.
NOTE 2: While installing make sure you UN-check any extra garbage which wants to install alongside.

===============================

Your computer is clean

1. This step will remove all cleaning tools we used, it'll reset restore points (so you won't get reinfected by accidentally using some older restore point) and it'll make some other minor adjustments...
This is a very crucial step so make sure you don't skip it.
Download DelFix by Xplode to your desktop. Delfix will delete all the used tools and logfiles.

Double-click Delfix.exe to start the tool.
Make sure the following items are checked:

• Activate UAC (optional; some users prefer to keep it off)
• Remove disinfection tools
• Create registry backup
• Purge System Restore
• Reset system settings

Now click "Run" and wait patiently.
Once finished a logfile will be created. You don't have to attach it to your next reply.

2. Make sure Windows Updates are current.

3. If any trojans, rootkits or bootkits were listed among your infection(s), make sure, you change all of your on-line important passwords (bank account(s), secured web sites, etc.) immediately!

4. Check if your browser plugins are up to date.
Firefox - https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
other browsers: https://browsercheck.qualys.com/ (click on "Launch a quick scan now" link)

5. Download, and install WOT (Web OF Trust): http://www.mywot.com/. It'll warn you (in most cases) about dangerous web sites.

6. Run Malwarebytes "Quick scan" once in a while to assure safety of your computer.

7. Run Temporary File Cleaner (TFC), AdwCleaner and Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) weekly (you need to redownload these tools since they were removed by DelFix).

8. Download and install Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI): http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/. The Secunia PSI is a FREE security tool designed to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs and plug-ins which expose your PC to attacks. Run it weekly.

9. (optional) If you want to keep all your programs up to date, download and install FileHippo Update Checker.
The Update Checker will scan your computer for installed software, check the versions and then send this information to FileHippo.com to see if there are any newer releases.

10. When installing\updating ANY program, make sure you always select "Custom " installation, so you can UN-check any possible "drive-by-install" (foistware), like toolbars etc., which may try to install along with the legitimate program. Do NOT click "Next" button without looking at any given page.

11. Read:
How did I get infected?, With steps so it does not happen again!: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic2520.html
Simple and easy ways to keep your computer safe and secure on the Internet: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...r-safe-online/
About those Toolbars and Add-ons - Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) which change your browser settings: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/foru.../#entry3187642

12. Please, let me know, how your computer is doing.

[Chuckers]

The computer seems to be faster now. However I still can't get to google and also yahoo. Any ideas?
Thank you.

[Broni]

In what browser?

[Chuckers]

IE. Chrome works

[Chuckers]

I think I took care of the problem. Internet options in IE, Advanced Tab, Restore Advanced Settings. I don't know what changed though. I think this laptop is still slow but perhaps due to too many things starting at startup. After it starts and settles down, it is using 1.43GB of memory. I think that is quite high. I downloaded a program called autoruns from sysinternals and will go thru that to see if I can eliminate things.

Anyway thank you very much for cleaning this computer of nasty's. My wife will appreciate it very much.

[Broni]

This computer specs are good so it shouldn't be slow.
You can surely go through some startups to see what's going on.
Starting with Vista RAM usage doesn't matter as RAM is handled in a different way than in previous Windows versions like XP.
All you care is CPU usage.

To see if startups play role in slow start try this...

Go Start>Run (Start Search in Vista/7), type in:
msconfig
Click OK (hit Enter in Vista/7).

Click on Startup tab.
Click Disable all
IMPORTANT! In case of laptop, make sure, you do NOT disable any keyboard, or touchpad entries.

Click Services tab.
Put checkmark in Hide all Microsoft services
Click Disable all.

Click OK.
Restart computer in Normal Mode.

NOTE. If you use different firewall, than Windows firewall, turn Windows firewall on, just for this test, since your regular firewall won't be running.
If you use Windows firewall, you're fine.

Same problem?

Don't forget to reverse all changes when done testing.

[Chuckers]

I didn't really notice too much of a difference. I'll ask her how it was when she first got it. There is a lot of unneeded Toshiba stuff in there I can get rid of to see if that helps. I can see about more ram to see if that helps also.

Thank you very much.

[Broni]

You're very welcome

[Train]

Toshiba laptops.

Carefully go though Scheduled task, that is where I found most of the causes of slowdowns. Yes, even if is disabled, scheduled tasked will start them up.

[Broni]

Check against this list: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/

[Chuckers]

Thanks Train, I'll check that.
And thanks Broni, That will take me some time.
There is so much I don't know about computers but I'm learning.

[Broni]