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I appreciate the suggestion broni, but I'm sort of up in the air a little bit.
I installed AVG at the suggestion of folks on this forum, where it is still listed as one of the suggested anti-virus programs. (Which are seemingly in alphabetical order.) Now you're saying it is a hog and telling me to install one of three other programs, and I go into a sort of brain freeze trying to decide which of the three I should pick. Each of them describes itself as the best and most thorough and pretty much implies that installing anything else is at best a waste of time and at worst suicidal. So how do I decide? The last time I picked from such a list I picked AVG, which was apparently the wrong choice.
This whole Internet thing is becoming increasingly discouraging.
In any case, I haven't done anything yet, because having made the wrong choice once I seem unable to choose from a list of three seemingingly identical items. Does it matter which one? I have no idea how to decipher the meanings of the "features" that they are describing. Pick the one with the prettiest colors? Flip a coin? Does any of them have any advantages or disadvantages over the others?
-
No. You don't need to flip a coin.
I've been a long time AVG user myself.
Unfortunately, since ver. 8.0 came out, AVG has been plagued with one problem after another, so I stopped using it myself and stopped recommending it.
I personally use all other three on different Windows installations without any problems.
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Thanks, broni, that makes sense and gives me a reason why I'm dumping the AVG. I'm going to go with Avast vecause I served in the Navy and "avast" is a nautical word, that brings back fond memories. Even though it was normally pronounced without the first "a" as in "Vast heaving, belay."
-
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Kaspersky found 0 infected files/threats. New HijackThis file:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:13:14 PM, on 3/6/2010
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\System32\nvraidservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = file:///C:/Internet/Mine/index.htm
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://en.us.acer.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: ShowBarObj Class - {83A2F9B1-01A2-4AA5-87D1-45B6B8505E96} - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\ActiveToolBand.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Acer eDataSecurity Management - {5CBE3B7C-1E47-477e-A7DD-396DB0476E29} - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\eDStoolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NVRaidService] C:\Windows\system32\nvraidservice.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast5\avastUI.exe /nogui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Users\William\AppData\Local\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - (no file)
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Acer HomeMedia Connect Service - CyberLink - C:\Program Files\Acer Arcade Live\Acer HomeMedia Connect\Kernel\DMS\CLMSServer.exe
O23 - Service: ePerformance Service (AcerMemUsageCheckService) - Unknown owner - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\ePerformance\MemCheck.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: eDataSecurity Service - Egis Incorporated - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\eDSService.exe
O23 - Service: eRecovery Service (eRecoveryService) - Acer Inc. - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eRecovery\eRecoveryService.exe
O23 - Service: eSettings Service (eSettingsService) - Unknown owner - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eSettings\Service\capuserv.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate1c9ffd7c1727689) (gupdate1c9ffd7c1727689) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe
--
End of file - 4473 bytes
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Very good :)
I think, we're home :)
Please download JavaRa to your desktop and unzip it to its own folder
- Run JavaRa.exe (Vista users! Right click on JavaRa.exe, click Run As Administrator), pick the language of your choice and click Select. Then click Remove Older Versions.
- Accept any prompts.
- Open JavaRa.exe again and select Search For Updates.
- Select Update Using Sun Java's Website then click Search and click on the Open Webpage button. Download and install the latest Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version for your computer.
Note 1: UNCHECK any pre-checked toolbar and/or software offered with the Java update. The pre-checked toolbars/software are not part of the Java update.
Note 2: The Java Quick Starter (JQS.exe) adds a service to improve the initial startup time of Java applets and applications. If you don't want to run another extra service, go to Start > Control Panel > Java > Advanced > Miscellaneous and uncheck the box for Java Quick Starter. Click OK and restart your computer.
==============================================================
Print this post out, since you won't have an access to it, at some point.
1. Open HijackThis.
2. Close all windows, except for HijackThis.
3. Put checkmarks next to the following HijackThis entries:
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - (no file)
4. You should also checkmark following entries (these are unnecessary startups; no actual programs will be removed):
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Update] "C:\Users\William\AppData\Local\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe" /c
5. Click on Fix checked button.
6. Restart computer.
7. Post new HijackThis log.
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I appreciate all of the help, but JavaRa is way over my head. It has me choosing to update between "jucheck.exe and Sun java's website," like I would have a clue which choice to make, and talks about runtime environments that I have to have running and directs me to a website where I choose JRE or JER or whatever in different versions, and I have no idea what I'm doing. If this kind of thing is necessary to use the Internet, I am seriously just going back to newspapers.
Can I just skip that, and is there any use in doing what you suggest on HijackThis if I do skip that?
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Perform those HJT steps from my latest reply, post fresh HJT log, then....
Download Security Check from HERE, and save it to your Desktop.
* Double-click SecurityCheck.exe
* Follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
* A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.
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This is a heck of a lot of work that I do to fix my computer and even more work that you're doing, since you're reading these log files, to... Um, because... Well, the world needs more people like you. Thanks.
Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.1
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (UAC is disabled!)
Out of date service pack!!
``````````````````````````````
Antivirus/Firewall Check:
Windows Firewall Enabled!
avast! Free Antivirus
Antivirus up to date!
``````````````````````````````
Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:
SpywareBlaster 4.2
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
HijackThis 2.0.2
Java(TM) 6 Update 13
Out of date Java installed!
Adobe Flash Player 10
Adobe Reader 8.1.0
Out of date Adobe Reader installed!
``````````````````````````````
Process Check:
objlist.exe by Laurent
Empowering Technology eSettings Service capuserv.exe
Alwil Software Avast5 AvastSvc.exe
Alwil Software Avast5 AvastUI.exe
``````````````````````````````
DNS Vulnerability Check:
GREAT! (Not vulnerable to DNS cache poisoning)
`````````End of Log```````````
HijackThis
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:19:37 AM, on 3/7/2010
Platform: Windows Vista SP1 (WinNT 6.00.1905)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6001.18000)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\Windows\system32\Dwm.exe
C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
C:\Windows\System32\nvraidservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastUI.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe
C:\Windows\system32\taskeng.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnscfg.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wbem\unsecapp.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = file:///C:/Internet/Mine/index.htm
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://en.us.acer.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: ShowBarObj Class - {83A2F9B1-01A2-4AA5-87D1-45B6B8505E96} - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\ActiveToolBand.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Acer eDataSecurity Management - {5CBE3B7C-1E47-477e-A7DD-396DB0476E29} - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\eDStoolbar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NVRaidService] C:\Windows\system32\nvraidservice.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast5\avastUI.exe /nogui
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - (no file)
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Acer HomeMedia Connect Service - CyberLink - C:\Program Files\Acer Arcade Live\Acer HomeMedia Connect\Kernel\DMS\CLMSServer.exe
O23 - Service: ePerformance Service (AcerMemUsageCheckService) - Unknown owner - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\ePerformance\MemCheck.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: eDataSecurity Service - Egis Incorporated - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eDataSecurity\x86\eDSService.exe
O23 - Service: eRecovery Service (eRecoveryService) - Acer Inc. - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eRecovery\eRecoveryService.exe
O23 - Service: eSettings Service (eSettingsService) - Unknown owner - C:\Acer\Empowering Technology\eSettings\Service\capuserv.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate1c9ffd7c1727689) (gupdate1c9ffd7c1727689) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe
--
End of file - 4163 bytes
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Go here: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp, download and install following:
Windows 7/XP/Vista/2000/2003/2008 Offline
When done....
Your computer is clean https://discussions.virtualdr.com/
1. Turn off System Restore:
- Windows XP:
1. Click Start.
2. Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
3. Click the System Restore tab.
4. Check "Turn off System Restore".
5. Click Apply.
6. When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click Yes to do this.
7. Click OK.
- Windows Vista:
1. Click Start.
2. Right-click the Computer icon, and then click Properties.
3. Click on System Protection under the Tasks column on the left side
4. Click on Continue on the "User Account Control" window that pops up
5. Under the System Protection tab, find Available Disks
6. Uncheck the box for any drive you wish to disable system restore on (in most cases, drive "C:")
7. When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click "Turn System Restore Off" on the popup window to do this.
8. Click OK
2. Restart computer.
3. Turn System Restore on.
4. Make sure, Windows Updates are current.
5. If any Trojan was listed among your infection(s), make sure, you change all of your on-line important passwords (bank account(s), secured web sites, etc.) immediately!
6. Download, and install WOT (Web OF Trust): http://www.mywot.com/. It'll warn you (in most cases) about dangerous web sites.
7. Run defrag at your convenience.
8. Read How did I get infected?, With steps so it does not happen again!: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic2520.html
9. Please, let me know, how is your computer doing.
-
I updated Java per your direction.
I'm not sure if my thing on the System Restore was right or not. When I got there none of the disks was checked, and "most recent restore point" for the disks both said "none." So I checked both disks and clicked the "create restore points" button, and it did that. It left both boxes checked and showed the date in "most recent restore point" column for both.
I left it checked, which I assume means "turned on" and exited. Then I came back in and it was still both disks checked and both showed dates. So I unchecked both and clicked "Okay" to leave and restarted the computer. I then checked both boxes, but both "most recent restore point" columns still show "none" even after I leave and return. The boxes remain checked. So I don't know if I followed directions or not. Newspapers are looking better and better.
As to updating Windows, I clicked on "Updates" in the system portion of the computer control panel and it wanted me to install something from Microsoft and I just bailed out. Microsoft freaks me out. When I had XP I had the automatic update turned on. I didn't mean to do that, Microsoft did it when I downloaded the latest service pack, and it drove me crazy with automatic popups and crap. I dread the thought of dealing with any kind of Microsoft update right now and having them suck me back into that nonsense again.
I really do appreciate all of the help you have offered and the patience you've shown with my lack of technical knowledge.
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You're very welcome :)
It looks like you had system restore turned off, which is not a good idea.
Make sure, the checkmark is on and restart computer. Fresh, clean restore point will be created. Leave the checkmark on.
If drive D is your recovery partition, you only need to have drive C checked.
Windows updates are important. I can see, you don't even have SP2 installed.
Now, when your computer is clean, I strongly recommend you bring Windows updates up to date.
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Is there any way to do that without installing "Windows Updates Manager" from Microsoft? It used to be with Win2k that you could go to the Microsoft site and there would be a place that you could just download the latest service pack and install it without giving the Bill Gates Army control of your computer. Is that no longer the case? I really do not want that "Updates Manager" on my computer, because it was a major pain in the backside when I had XP. That's one of the reasons, actually, that I upgraded to Vista.
-
You surely can download standalone SP2, but there are also other updates.
All, I can say is that your computer should be kept up to date.
-
SP2
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w.../dd262148.aspx
Download and burn to cd. Then you will have it handy if ever needed.
