Malicious Thoughts About the Spyware Ills of My Pc

Introduction

Who would think I was capable of such revengeful thoughts about the parties responsible for inflicting my poor computer with spyware? Well, after the trauma of having gone through such an experience for the first time, I was sorely tempted by the occult section of curses and witchcraft at my local bookstore. Growl!

Basically, I am a normal person using a home computer to perform simple normal tasks such as word processing, writing emails, internet banking, and surfing the Internet for useful information. Ok, I also have a weakness for looking for bargains on good old eBay (sheepish grin) and Paypal is quite a handy option for easy purchasing. Problem:

Great dismay and panic hit when my pc started popping up strange windows or messages. With my limited IT knowledge, I ran a Norton virus scan which obviously revealed a number of problems. But the Symantec removal tool did not remove the spyware nd I could not even log onto a couple of password protected sites. My beloved pc was infected with some malware or adware or trojan, among which, I believe was WinFixer and a Trojan Vundo. I did not know how to get rid of Vundo or how to remove WinFixer. (Or perhaps they were the one and same thing?). But at that point, I did not know any better, so began the laborious task of searching for information on how to get rid of the spyware.Research:

From my search, I found out that the Trojan Vundo is a trojan horse that causes popups advertising rogue antispyware programs. For example, the program called Sysprotect is advertised in many of the popup windows as seen from the screenshot below. Vundo infects a computer by creating a DLL file in the Windows system directory and writes registry entries causing Windows to inject the file into winlogon.exe.

WinFixer, on the other hand, has siblings as it is identical to WinAntiVirus and ErrorSafe. And these programs all claim to repair problems within your computer system. By installing the program on your computer, you will likely end up receiving false information about your computer. Naturally, this will confuse you into believing your PC is infected with viruses, spyware and/or other forms of malware.

The popups and forced downloads apparently mirror “marketing” strategies of many spyware programs. And at times, infected computers will reduce in their level of speed and performance. Well, this all explained what was probably happening to my pc, and I knew I had to figure out how to get rid of WinFixer and Vundo before they drove me mad. Research and solution:

In my initial panic, I reacted by downloading some recommended antispyware programs, namely CounterSpy by Sunbelt Software, XoftSpy by ParetoLogic and Spy Sweeper by Webroot Software Inc. I came to my senses by the third program and stopped myself from paying for another popular program, spyware octor. But hey, all these programs did receive pretty good reviews from the experts at PCWorld, PCMag, CNet, Tucows and AdwareReport. So at the time, I did not feel that I had gone too much overboard ;)

Now, there are many sites listing all sorts of free and paid antispyware programs with a variety of reviews and user opinions on how to remove WinFixer and how to get rid of Vundo. Many of the commercial antispyware program homepages also list very detailed features of their products plus the latest research findings about current spyware threats. Have a look at this webpage that lists some of these reliable programs. www.consumerstyle.com/anti spyware p>

Anyway, an opinion and recommendation I had read when researching for the reliable antispyware programs made heaps sense in that software you pay for is more likely to offer benefits over freeware, i.e., better support, more frequent updates and better pro-active protection measures. One just has to be careful when selecting the programs. According to the comments in the forums and review articles I read, many recommend using at least two programs to be able to catch the latest spyware that either program might miss (that was when I stopped myself from my downloading frenzy). I have learnt much more about my pc now and wish to share and perhaps amuse you my muddled but finally effective measures to cleaning up my pc and removing the spyware. My actions:

My initial Norton antivirus scan found but was not able to delete Vundo, even after rebooting. The Symantec removal tool did not help at all. I had disconnected from the Internet, disabled system restore, and ran the removal tool, regularly and in safe mode. After numerous startups, varying with safe mode, and disabling antivirus, I even tried to figure out how to remove Vundo manually without messing with the registry, etc. Please note that some people had success with the Symantec removal tools, and some others, like me, did not. Apart from the Trojan Vundo, I was getting quite frustrated at not being able to remove WinFixer for the many windows continually popping up started to slow my computer down, and even freeze it at times.

So I first tried Xoftspy, which was the fastest when scanning my computer. I was pleased to have fewer pop ups, was able to remove WinFixer, and ended with a much faster internet connection.

Then with my next program, Spy Sweeper, I ran it twice and then did a full system scan. Lo and behold, Vundo was gone, no more popups and adware annoyances. I guess this might not work for everyone but it is worth a shot to download Spy Sweeper.

Being still paranoid about the health of my pc, I finally ran the the free two-week trial version of CounterSpy, for extra assurance. Now I was quite impressed as it also included a scheduler, secure file shredder, and a history cleaner that made it simple to set up weekly scans. And there are frequent definition file updates for CounterSpy’s publisher. The company seems to run a well-staffed spyware esearch department. After a scan, CounterSpy can delete, quarantine, or remove spyware. I was advised not to install Microsoft Anti spyware longside older versions of CounterSpy (version 1.5 and below). And it is recommended to get CounterSpy to check for online updates of definitions and program files manually.Conclusion:

To sum it all, XoftSpy was able to delete WinFixer as the program was able to uninstall WinFixer within fifteen minutes requiring a couple of restarts. As for Spy Sweeper, it managed to remove Vundo with ease. And I have no doubt that CounterSpy has done a great job of keeping my pc free of spyware. I cannot say that I have taken the best approach to solving my problems, but my pc is now running faster than ever and I have been free of WinFixer and Vundo ever since. I just have to remember to be more careful and scan my pc regularly.

One thing is for sure, there are many reliable and popular anti spyware rograms out there, and many helpful forum chat folk who can lend a hand with plenty of technical advice. You just have to sort out what advice and which steps to take by increasing your own awareness and understanding of your pc and the nasty world of spyware urking around these days.

Jess Ong is a contributor/author on Security Systems for Consumerstyle.com. Consumerstyle.com looks at the online trends and styles. The security section sniffs around one of the current buzzes in the world of IT and consumers. It provides information and personal reviews about some popular software programs. spyware spyware rel="nofollow">www.consumerstyle.com/antispyware
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Sunday 24 January 2010 at 2:57 pm

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Spyware

John Locke said that “no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions”, Yet as I sit here at my computer this morning, I get the feeling that the attempts being made to keep the Internet’s safe will not come to fruition soon.

Yes, I can hear you saying, “don’t be such a downer, Doug”

Well, hear me out.

Lets explore John Lockes quote shall we?

Life. Yours, mine, your loved ones. Its yours, to do with what you will. Well, sometimes your will is to use the Internet’s. But how secure are you? Is your AntiVirus, Anti spyware nd Firewall working and up to date? Do you know what is a Spam email is and not to click on the URL they provide? These decisions can affect your life if you are online.

Next, Liberty or as I prefer to think of, Freedom. To have access to particular resources without constraint. If online threats are making your life hectic, would you consider your rights violated? I would if I found out that some drive by download had installed a keylogger on my computer and then cleaned out my bank account. Or how about while you’re trying to conduct business online and you keep getting these awful pop=ups telling you about the sale at Harveys Fish Emporium.

Are your Liberties/ Freedoms being constrained yet?

Now we come to the best part, the pursuit of spyware Ok, so John Locke didn’t say anything about Spyware, Write your own article, this ones mine!

Threats to our online safety are growing in leaps and bounds by the day. I learned long ago, there is always someone out there who is better than anyone previously. The attacks on servers, the Bot networks, the phishing, the URL re-directs, Keyloggers, Image Spam, it just goes on and on. Your personal information is at risk every minute you are online.

I know, you have the best AntiVirus, Anti spyware and Firewall there is. But is it really? How do you know? When was the last time you ran “Hijack This” and uploaded the results to a help Forum like MajorGeeks, Bleeping Computer or DaniWeb? Its the only way to make sure your computer is clean. And theres no guarantee it wont become re-infected two minutes after you leave the Forum.I know it happens because I frequent these Forums and I see hundreds of freaked users pleading for help. Many are repeat submitters.

Which brings me to the whole purpose of this article. To bring into the spotlight those out there who fight everyday to help keep us safe. They sit at their computers for hours at a time, examining postings in Forums to help others they don’t even know stay out of the clutches of those who would benefit from the misfortune of others.

Ever get that feeling of helplessness that comes when your computer wont work right.

Remember? Not fun huh? These people read your postings and know your pain. Its hard to do this also, they have to help you fix your computer thru posting instructions for you to do. Miscommunication and frustrations can cause it to take longer and compound the repairs.

Then there are the organizations that go after the meanies that cause your pain.

They put out alerts and issue fixes. These include The Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals, The Anti- spyware oalition, The Council of Advocates for Relief from Malware Assimilation, The Spamhaus Project, just to name a few. There are plenty more out there that are fighting the good fight every day. The goal is a communication arena where all can participate without concern of malicious intent.

Kind of like the old days when the Internet first existed.

Back then there were “Hackers”. They were mostly driven by ego and competition to see who was the best. Now its mostly about money. Legions of Bot captured computers sending out Spam and ads going to millions and millions of unprotected servers, computers and of course, into your email. Theres also the Pharming of websites, waiting like a spider in its lair for you to show up and give you a lil driveby download of something special. You name the evil that people do and you can find it online. Thank goodness the goodness of the Internet’s is on the other side of the scale.

So, the solution? Make another one and try again? I don’t have the answer, I do know that there are good people out there who want safety for all and are making a good show of it. They deserve our thanks.

I believe there is alway bad that comes with the good. A balance or whatever. And like the other saying goes, Retaining Freedom for all requires constant vigilance.

So be vigilant.

About the Author:
Doug Woodall has a website at http://www.spywarebiz.com There he provides free information and recommended products to combat spyware Viruses and other Online Nasties.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Friday 22 January 2010 at 2:39 pm

Spyware and How to Protect your Computer From It

spyware spyware as in headlines for the first time in 1999 when a freeware game called ” Elf Bowling” circulated with spying software along with it. Since then spywares are creating a havoc in the computer world. Some of the downloadable software comes with a licensing agreement that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software. But most of us do not go through the agreement properly.
Spyware exists as independent executable programs. These malicious software have the ability to monitor keystrokes, change the default home page on the Web browser, read cookies, scan files on the hard drive, install other spyware programs and even spy other applications, such as chat programs or word processors. The spywares continuously relay this information back to the person who is spying. He will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.
Steps of protecting your computer against spywares
Protecting against spyware is very essential to safeguard personal identity and other vital information. There are four essential steps that are essential to safeguard your computer against this malicious software.
Updating the operating system regularly
Installing an anti virus software and updating it regularly
Utilizing the firewall software
Utilizing the anti spyware software
Regularly updating of the operating system
It is always essential to install all security related programs as soon as possible. One of the best ways to do it is by utilizing the automatic update option in the computer. But the problem with this is if the computer components are not genuine but pirated ones, then the automatic updating of the operating system may work. So one has to buy genuine parts and software and keep updating regularly
Installing anti virus software
Anti virus software prevents viruses from getting attached to the programs in the computer and prevent them from corrupting the files. Many reliable anti virus software are available some of which are downloadable for free from the net. But one should regularly update the antivirus software to prevent danger from newer virus threats.
The Firewall utility
Hackers use viruses and Trojan Horses to find unprotected computers and access them to delete information, steal personal information or corrupt the files. Firewall security prevents these hackers from doing these. Three types of firewall security are available
Hardware routers: for home networks connected to internet
Wireless routers: for wireless network
Software firewalls: for single computers
The Anti spyware software
The antispyware software protects the computer from those spying the web browsing habits of the victim, will prevent unwanted pop up windows and prevent uninitiated changes in the computer settings.

Markus writes and publishes articles about spyware, adware and PC safety, and other unbiased health related topics on Independent-views.com.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Thursday 21 January 2010 at 4:36 am

Pc Antivirus Software – Do I Need It?

PC Antivirus oftware could be the most important program you own.  It could save you hours of frustration and heartache.  Most importantly it could save you a huge sum of money and give you piece of mind.

 

You may ask yourself this question constantly.  Do I need PC antivirus software?  The answer, quite simply, is yes.  If you spend any time at all connected to the internet or moving files from other PC’s, you definitely need it.  viruses re most commonly picked up through the internet or by opening files from an unknown source. 

 

A virus can create havoc on an unprotected computer system.  You can lose files, programs and personal data.  In some cases, you can lose everything on your pc and end up having to replace the whole thing. All of this can be prevented simply by purchasing good quality PC antivirus software.  Most of these programs are relatively inexpensive and provide all of the protection you need for daily use.

 

PC antivirus software comes in all shapes and sizes.  There are free Antivirus rograms and ones that you need to purchase and then purchase a subscription to keep them up to date.  The free software usually offer little protection and are out of date quickly.  This leaves your PC open to infection and possible data loss or damage to the system.  This is obviously not a situation that anyone wants.

 

The best choice for PC antivirus software is a paid solution which is updated frequently.  Viruses are being written all the time and if your software isn’t updated it will not detect a virus that has been written since your last update.  For this reason it is necessary to maintain a subscription to whatever software you purchase.  There may be a fee for this service but, it is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and security solid PC Antivirus oftware will provide.

 

There is no one magic program that provides complete protection but, some of the best on the market include Norton Anti-Virus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Trend Micro Anti-Virus and Panda Anti-Virus.  Any of these quality products can provide you all of the virus protection and security you will need if updated regularly.

Don’t put your data and personal information at risk. Protect your PC from virus and spyware spyware nfections at http://www.TopVirusSoftware.com.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Thursday 21 January 2010 at 4:36 am

Spyware – How to Protect your Computer From It

Spyware was in headlines for the first time in 1999 when a freeware game called ” Elf Bowling” circulated with spying software along with it. Since then spywares are creating a havoc in the computer world. Some of the downloadable software comes with a licensing agreement that a spyware rogram will be installed along with the requested software. But most of us do not go through the agreement properly.
Spyware exists as independent executable programs. These malicious software have the ability to monitor keystrokes, change the default home page on the Web browser, read cookies, scan files on the hard drive, install other spyware programs and even spy other applications, such as chat programs or word processors. The spywares continuously relay this information back to the person who is spying. He will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.
Steps of protecting your computer against spywares
Protecting against spyware spyware is very essential to safeguard personal identity and other vital information. There are four essential steps that are essential to safeguard your computer against this malicious software.
* Updating the operating system regularly
* Installing an anti virus software and updating it regularly
* Utilizing the firewall software
* Utilizing the anti spyware spyware oftware
Regularly updating of the operating system
It is always essential to install all security related programs as soon as possible. One of the best ways to do it is by utilizing the automatic update option in the computer. But the problem with this is if the computer components are not genuine but pirated ones, then the automatic updating of the operating system may work. So one has to buy genuine parts and software and keep updating regularly
Installing anti virus software
Anti virus software prevents viruses rom getting attached to the programs in the computer and prevent them from corrupting the files. Many reliable anti virus software are available some of which are downloadable for free from the net. But one should regularly update the antivirus software to prevent danger from newer virus threats.
The Firewall utility
Hackers use viruses and Trojan Horses to find unprotected computers and access them to delete information, steal personal information or corrupt the files. Firewall security prevents these hackers from doing these. Three types of firewall security are available
* Hardware routers: for home networks connected to internet
* Wireless routers: for wireless network
* Software firewalls: for single computers
The Anti spyware software
The antispyware software protects the computer from those spying the web browsing habits of the victim, will prevent unwanted pop up windows and prevent uninitiated changes in the computer settings.

Educate yourself about spyware adware and malware, and other unbiased home PC security topics on Independent-views.com.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Wednesday 20 January 2010 at 3:08 pm

Finding Free Antivirus Software

The advent of the computer, as anyone can tell you, certainly brought with it benefits of such proportions we could never have previously imagined them. But, as with anything, the good always comes with the bad. The computer, while handing us the world, has also exposed us to the dangers of it. Part of the danger, exclusive to the operation of computers, is exposure to viruses that can wipe out our hard drives, render our software unusable, and in some cases, completel y eradicate normal function of our computers. For most of us, who store personal, professional, and even legal information on our computers, virus exposure can be devastating. Luckily, most people employ the use of antivirus software that protects our computers from attack; much like hiring a bodyguard. And while some software can come at a hefty price, there is free antivirus software available on the market today.
Free Antivirus oftware can protect your computer without you having to pay a large price for software purchase or download. This free antivirus software should protect your computer from all forms of viruses nd prevent the entry of anything that will damage your internal and external systems.
Keep in mind however, that free antivirus software still comes at a price. And the price is being unsure as to the quality and effectiveness of the software. Reputable computer and software manufacturers all offer their own variety of Antivirus oftware available for purchase. And because of their standing in the industry – and the fact that you are paying for the software – the quality of the product is assured. Manufacturers of this sort have a vested interest in standing behind their products and designing software that will effectively protect and serve their customers.
Those companies – mostly found on the Internet – that offer free antivirus software do so at risk to the consumer. If getting free Antivirus oftware makes the most sense for your financial position right now, then do so with consideration to the reputation and reliability of the company.
Free antivirus software will provide you with a minimum of protection in the short run; but when you are able, you should invest in proper and thorough antivirus protection.

Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Wednesday 20 January 2010 at 4:26 am

Norton Antivirus 2007: an Upgrade Finally Worth the Wait

The Norton brand is probably the most synonymous brand when it comes to virus protection software. Norton Antivirus as been in existence since 1990, and since then a growing number of people have come to rely on the Norton name to protect their computers from virus attacks. In fact, Norton Antivirus is considered the most widely used antivirus software in the world today.

Over the years, Norton Antivirus as constantly underwent upgrades as a means of trying to improve on its ability to detect a growing number of viruses that are being spread. Additionally, each generation of the software incorporates several new features and services as a way of making it more effective in its task of detecting and eliminating (or quarantining) viruses as well as turning it into a more robust application. For example, in rece nt years, Norton Antivirus has begun to incorporate the detection not only of viruses but also of Trojan horses, spyware and worms as a direct response to the growing proliferation of these potentially harmful pieces of malware.

With the release of Norton Antivirus 007, users should expect to see another set of new features that will help it remain the top of its class when it comes to virus protection. One of the biggest changes in the 2007 version over the previous 2006 version is the decision of the Norton Antivirus team to rewrite much of the code for the application. The result of this overhaul is a faster and lighter version of the antivirus software. Rewriting the code also meant that the interface was streamlined as well. Unlike the previous version, where each task appeared in a separate desktop window, the 2007 version wisely uses tabs inside just one window, which makes it much easier to manage.

Under the hood, Norton Antivirus also benefited from the code rewrite. For instance, the virus scan and the spyware can now run simultaneously, which drastically cuts down on scanning time. Norton Antivirus 007 also incorporates many of the functions of Norton Personal Firewall, which means the application can now also double as a “light” firewall.

Another very important feature of the new version of Norton Antivirus s the incorporation of enterprise level anti rootkit functions. This powerful level of protection against rootkits is well worth the price of the software especially with the growing prevalence of rootkit based attacks on computers. Overall Norton Antivirus 2007 is still arguably the best Antivirus rotection one can get, and the new version was definitely worth the wait unlike previous versions which disappointed.

Matt Gundesen is a specialist in the field of virus protection and works for AntivirusDownload.com. To get more information on the new features of Norton Antivirus 2007 please visit: Antivirus rel="nofollow">http://www.antivirusdownload.com/norton- Antivirus /a>
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Sunday 10 January 2010 at 4:29 am

Antivirus 2008: the Latest Scourge of the Internet

The one thing that never changes in IT is the fact that everything is constantly changing.  In the past, people had to watch out for viruses Then it was spyware, and then it was browser hijackers.  Next came the Trojan, a program, that when opened would release either a virus, spyware or both.  Lastly, we heard about phishing, an attack that tricked the end user into giving out personal information that can lead to identity theft. 

Recently The Village Geek has been flooded by computers that are infected with what researchers are calling fraudware.  Fraudware is software that tries to frighten the end user into purchasing protection from… itself.  In the old days they called it extortion.

 The current rash of fraudware is called Antivirus 008; it is available in several varieties, including XP Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009 (the latest version!), MS Antivirus and probably more.  This is an actual program that installs itself on your system in the same way spyware spyware nstalls, without your knowledge or permission.  Antivirus 2008 then shows up on your task bar as a warning icon that looks almost identical to the Windows Security Center shield and it shows an “X” or an exclamation mark.  Pop up bubbles will warn you that an infection has been found.  If you ignore the pop ups the program will pop up full screen and simulate a virus scan showing multiple infections.  The program will show you all the problems and then it will explain that you must purchase the full version for $50 in order to clean these infections.

 Here are some typical warning messages:

Privacy Violation alert!XP antivirus detected Privacy Violation. Some program is secretly sending your private data to untrusted internet host. Click here to block this activity by removing threats (Recommended).

Or

System files modification alert!Some critical system files of your computer were modified by malicious program. It may cause system instability and data loss. Click here to block unauthorized modification by removing threats (Recommended).

The beauty of the scam is that (at least so far) none of the major antivirus and antispyware programs are picking this thing up.  Once you pay your money the program doesn’t clean anything and on some versions it will actually release a flood of spyware or Trojans into your system.  Eventually you will no longer be able to use your system as the Antivirus 2008 will not allow you to get past its interface except to follow the link where they will allow you to repurchase the software in hopes of ridding yourself of the menace.

Obviously if you have paid these crooks for the full version you will need to contact your credit card company and stop payment as soon as possible.

The early version of this fraudware had an uninstall routine, which would remove it from the “Add and Remove Programs” applet in the control panel, but did not remove the program.  The newest versions don’t bother with the extra steps, they’ve got you and they aren’t going to let go.

Below are some typical processes, files and registry entries that must be removed in order to clean Antivirus 2008 off your system.  You should be aware that editing the registry hould only be done by experienced technicians, and there is no guarantee that these files are the only ones on your system.  Comparing your running processes in the Windows Task Manager against this list will help you determine if this is an issue on your system.

Associated (XP) Antivirus 008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus Processes

Antvrs.exeAntvrsInstall.exeAntvrsInstall[1].exeWin Antivirus 2008.exeav2008xp.exeAntivirus-2008.exexpa_2008.exe

Associated (XP) Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus iles:

c:Program FilesXP Antivirusc:Program FilesXP Antivirus a.exec:Program FilesXPAntivirusc:Program FilesXPAntivirusXPAntivirus.exec:WINDOWSsystem32scui.cpl%UserProfile%DesktopXP Antivirus 2008.lnk%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 2008%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 008Uninstall XP Antivirus 008.lnk%UserProfile%Start MenuXP Antivirus 2008XP Antivirus 2008.lnk%UserProfile%Application DataMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchXP Antivirus 2008.lnkc:WINDOWSkrln32.exec:WINDOWSsystem32scvh0st.exec:Program FilesCommon Filestrjdwnl.dllc:WINDOWSshlext32.exe

Associated (XP) Antivirus 2008, XP Antivirus 2009, and XP Antivirus Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareXP antivirusHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesXPAntivirusFilterHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesXPAntivirusFilterHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser HelperObjects{4e7bd74f-2b8d-469e-dcf7-f96da086b434}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser HelperObjects{6C6B8C69-9285-4D94-8492-9E920C8C2B65}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser HelperObjects{74f25a2c-22b3-4023-8f1a-ca616c30a8b5}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser HelperObjects{9a19966f-ae0e-4699-8cce-9b6f5f1c352c}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser HelperObjects{D714A94F-123A-45CC-8F03-040BCAF82AD6}HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallXP antivirus_is1HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “XP Antivirus”HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “mmnext06″HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “shellbn”HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “System”HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “Windows Framework”HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun “”

Typically I would refer you to links on the internet that may be helpful at this point, but every site I can find is busy attempting to sell you a solution, or worse, attempting to infect you.  At one point the top paid advertisement on the right side of a Google search was for Antivirus 2008.  Tread carefully here folks, or just bring it to The Village Geek and let us clean this mess up for you.

Steve Weigle is the owner of Village Geek Computers, an IT center with multiple locations. Steve has provided IT services to Central Indiana since 1996.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Wednesday 23 December 2009 at 4:44 am

9 Steps to a Spyware Free Computer

With simply a computer and a connection to the world wide web you can access millions of Web servers, e-mail addresses, and a plethora of other vast and expanding new technologies but, it’s not completely safe. Both your PC and personal information is at high risk.

Each day virus, spyware, and adware hackers come up with new, ingenious ways to gain access to your PC. These steps will help keep you safe:

Stop and think before you click: Downloaded files that end with .exe, .com, .bat, and .scr, as well as scriptable document files, including .doc and .xls, can render your computer completely useless with a single click. Most e-mail clients prevent access to any attachments so take an extra few seconds before you make a judgement on whether you trust the source and decide to open it or not.

Make use of a spam filter: Although most spyware and viruses make their way onto your computer via drive-by browser hijacking, spreading by email is still possible. Installing a junk-mail filter will decrease your chances of activating malicious scripts embedded in messages.

Ensure your antivirus applications are up to date: Using antivirus software that has expired past it’s subscription period is definitely not an option: Not only do you lack the crucial virus database updates, but you expose your system to malware that targets known flaws in antivirus software.

Prevention against WORMS and Viruses: Install antivirus software, update regularly, and use it regularly. Never open unsolicited e-mail attachments.Disconnect your network or modem cable when you are not using your computer.

Antivirus oftware is software that is installed on your computer that protects you from viruses. Antivirus software programs can have between 40,000 – 120,000 “malicious software definitions” that receive constant updates.

I highly recommend Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus (Free) for antivirus protection.

If unsure get a 2nd opinion: You should only install and use one single antivirus program at a time on your computer because multiple antivirus programs will conflict with one another and cause your computer to completely grind to a halt. If you have any doubt about your antivirus program’s effectiveness, you can use a free online virus scanner, such as Panda Software’s ActiveScan) or Trend Micros HouseCall.

Approach downloading with caution: Any program you download and run on your PC could potentially result in spyware or virus infection. Download software only from reputable online sources that preferably have a strict no spyware policy.

Install a bidirectional firewall: Windows XP and Vista each come with a firewall that blocks incoming attacks; it is enabled by default in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later. However for the best protection possible, you will also want to block unwanted outgoing connections made by spyware viruses and scripts on your PC that attempts to either connect to a remote server or send out spam.

Windows Vista’s firewall does have that fucntionality, but configuring it is not entirely simple enough for the average Windows user. You may be interested to know that, you can get one of several free bidirectional firewall programs, such as Zone Labs ZoneAlarm Free, or Agnitums Outpost Firewall Free.

Install a good anti spyware rogram: Anyone who uses a computer can succumb to spyware nfection. In fact, 9 out of 10 Internet-connected PCs are infected with some kind of malicious software. spyware an be any application that tracks your online or offline PC activity, serves you adverts, redirects your pages and bombards you with pop-ups. If you use the Internet, its very much possible that some form of virus threats are already present on your PC.

Viruses can sometimes go undetected however, it is more likely that you will notice that it is present on your PC due to the obvious symptoms that your computer may experience. It is VERY difficult to get rid of but not entirely impossible.

Even if you think you have successfully removed an unwanted program manually, a remaining dormant file can trigger a complete reinstallation the next time you start your computer. And as a survival tactic, spyware programs often leave similar traces elsewhere on your system so you can often never eliminate it completely on one attempt.

Spyware, adware, and some scripts / trojans slow down your system, cause crashes, and track your online activity. Antispyware utilities work much like antivirus software, detecting and removing the unwanted software from your PC.

One free tactic you can employ is to upgrade from Windows XP: As Microsoft Windows service Pack 2 makes Windows XP much safer, however the operating system still has security holes, and it remains prime target for spyware authors.

If you still have a slow PC after trying the software above and you think it may be due to spyware, you can find more help and information on fixing your slow computer at Slow Computer Help.

Dave Ross is a Microsoft certified computer technician and has developed many solutions for beating Spyware, computer Viruses and Adware. More information on his techniques can be found at the Slow Computer Help website.
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Tuesday 22 December 2009 at 2:42 pm

Antivirus Spyware An Enemy Hiding As A Friend

There isn’t a single computer user that hasn’t had problems with spyware in this day and age. Antivirus spyware is just another form of this trend that’s taking computers by storm. This is a type of program that is usually a virus in itself that opens backdoors for other viruses Its programmers release it and make it look like an official product to get you to download it. After downloading it loots your machine for all the personal info it can get.What makes this even worse is the fact that they will partner up with other bad people and give your information to them. As well as your ip address, internet passwords, and any other information they run off with. As you can see this is a really big pain in the backside. It isn’t impossible to deal with.To get rid of these malcontents all you need to do is download and use legitimate antivirus software. Most modern decent companies program their products to hunt down these fakers and destroy them on site. Having real programs on your machine and keeping it immunized from the start can protect it in the first place. It takes a lot of work to secure your pc these days.Although the amount of these antivirus spyware rograms has increased at an alarming rate. The people who make them make every effort for them to appear to be legitimate. Setting up a website and buying web space and service is far from difficult and they can make it look very convincing. After all the more convincing it looks the more apt you are to download and the better their chances of stealing your identity.Stealing your identity is quite simple all they need is the bare minimum of information and the rest they can find themselves. Once they acquire this information they will open up everything they can in your name. Identity theft protection programs have sprung up like wildfire to combat this but it’s not easy. The best thing you can do is to protect yourself and not give out your info to shady websites or programs that look funny.There are a plethora of good reputable programs out there for you to use to protect your pc. Sorting them from the fake’s ones may be a bit tricky. If you want to find the real ones go to legitimate download sites that have indexes of them and read the reviews. After finding the right one for you download and you can usually spot a fake if it has negative reviews.To wrap things up antivirus spyware rogram have grown like rabbits over the years. They can be hard to get rid of because they can trick your system into thinking they are real but with patience and vigilance you can hunt them down. If something wants to know your info and it has no reason to then don’t give it out. One place that has information and programs that can help is: www. No adware . Net.

To get rid of spyware and to learn more about this topic, click here: Antivirus pyware. Go there today and get a free virus scan and antispyware software download!
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Posted under personal anti virus by greatyd on Monday 30 November 2009 at 3:02 pm