ie browser search hijack

[Superdave]

Yes. Some of these programs are not being kept up-to-date.

Is any of this problematic?

The most important is to keep MS Windows and your java updated.

I also still have in my Control Panel list of programs the one I mentioned named "aaa" published by "bbb" with comments "ccc"

You should remove any suspicious programs and those that you're not using from your computer.

When I install Web Of Trust and Spywareblaster, should I remove McAfee's websit monitoring that is incorporated into my browsers?

You don't have to. They should not conflict.

[dhammer]

"aaa" program

 

I wasn't clear: in my Control Panel list of programs the one I mentioned named "aaa" published by "bbb" with comments "ccc" I have been trying to remove periodically as we have run scans, but have had no success.

 

MS Windows, IE8 and java are updated.

[dhammer]

what's up with Spybot?

 

Weird - I ran Spybot and the taskbar showed the now classic error of "corrupt file: \pagefile.sys is corrupt and unreadable. Run Chkdsk." Spybot itself didn't find ANY errors though! So I ran IObit360 and it found a "Worm.bot" called c:\zip.exe which I removed.

[Superdave]

So I ran IObit360 and it found a "Worm.bot" called c:\zip.exe which I removed

I'm quite sure that's a false positive. If you find it again, please let me know and we'll test the file.

Please this test even if you don't have the XP disk and let me know what you find.

 

Do you have an XP CD?

 

If so, place it in your CD ROM drive and follow the instructions below:

•Click on Start > Run and type sfc /scannow then press Enter (note the space between scf and /scannow)

*Let this run undisturbed until the window with the blue progress bar goes away

SFC - Which stands for System File Checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

[dhammer]

Sfc

 

I ran the System File Checker. It completed without incident. Then I ran IObit360 and I ran Spybot and the taskbar showed the now classic error of "corrupt file: \pagefile.sys is corrupt and unreadable. Run Chkdsk." BUT neither scan showed any problems.

 

There haven't been any more browser redirects.

[Superdave]

After all the scans we've run, I would say that your computer is clean but I'm not sure why you're getting the chkdsk error but I'm quite positive it's not malware related. Let's do some cleanup.

 

To uninstall ComboFix

 

• Click the Start button. Click Run. For Vista: type in Run in the Start search, and click on Run in the results pane.
  
• In the field, type in ComboFix /uninstall
  

 

http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss269/Cat_Byte/Combofix_uninstall_image.jpg

 

(Note: Make sure there's a space between the word ComboFix and the forward-slash.)

 

• Then, press Enter, or click OK.
  
• This will uninstall ComboFix, delete its folders and files, hides System files and folders, and resets System Restore.
  

**********************************************

Clean out your temporary internet files and temp files.

Download TFC by OldTimer to your desktop.

 

Double-click TFC.exe to run it.

 

Note: If you are running on Vista, right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator

 

TFC will close all programs when run, so make sure you have saved all your work before you begin.

 

* Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process.

* Depending on how often you clean temp files, execution time should be anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two.

* Please let TFC run uninterrupted until it is finished.

 

Once TFC is finished it should restart your computer. If it does not, please manually restart the computer yourself to ensure a complete cleaning.

**************************************************

Use the Secunia Software Inspector to check for out of date software.

 

•Click Start Now

 

•Check the box next to Enable thorough system inspection.

 

•Click Start

 

•Allow the scan to finish and scroll down to see if any updates are needed.

•Update anything listed.

.

----------

 

Go to Microsoft Windows Update and get all critical updates.

 

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I suggest using WOT - Web of Trust. WOT is a free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky website. It's easy and it's free.

 

SpywareBlaster- Secure your Internet Explorer to make it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. Also stop certain cookies from being added to your computer when running Mozilla based browsers like Firefox.

* Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware

* If you don't know what ActiveX controls are, see here

 

Protect yourself against spyware using the Immunize feature in Spybot - Search & Destroy. Guide: Use Spybot's Immunize Feature to prevent spyware infection in real-time. Note: To ensure you have the latest Immunizations always update Spybot - Search & Destroy before Immunizing. Spybot - Search & Destroy FAQ

 

Check out Keeping Yourself Safe On The Web for tips and free tools to help keep you safe in the future.

 

Also see Slow Computer? It may not be Malware for free cleaning/maintenance tools to help keep your computer running smoothly.

Safe Surfing!

[dhammer]

the second clean-up

 

I had already done most of that the last time you asked, but I ran another TFC cleaning and installed WOT on both browsers. Also installed Spywareblaster. Secunia software inspector came up with the same misleading results as last time.

 

Again, I appreciate all the help you've given me.