Hi Vincent

Thanks for your reply. I have followed your instructions and completed all the steps (I believe).

There are a couple of strange things:

1. I cannot run IE without starting it up 'without add-ons' because nothing appears in the address box so it does not go anywhere.

2. When I started my PC after Safe Mode a Microsoft Security announcement came up (I have never seen one before) saying it had found a trojan: win32/Alureon.A

3. When I try to go into My Documents/My Pictures/Recycle Bin/explorer files a Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library runtime error pops up and prevents me:

Program:c:\WINDOWS|explorer.exe

This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.


I have tried rebooting but 1 & 3 still happen.

Please find the AVG scan report.

AVG Anti-Spyware - Scan Report
---------------------------------------------------------

+ Created at: 20:39:39 15/03/2007

+ Scan result:



C:\System Volume Information\_restore{202550A8-7A33-4BCA-9586-051D24DDBF8F}\RP171\A0135025.exe -> Downloader.Zlob.aty : Cleaned with backup (quarantined).
C:\Documents and Settings\Erik\Cookies\erik@tribalfusion[2].txt -> TrackingCookie.Tribalfusion : Cleaned.
C:\Documents and Settings\Erik\Cookies\erik@m.webtrends[2].txt -> TrackingCookie.Webtrends : Cleaned.


::Report end


I had trouble retrieving the HijackThis log because of the Runtime Error but managed to retrieve through the history in IE:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 21:00:29, on 15/03/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16414)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaantmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SAService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\stsystra.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaanotif.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\Erik\LOCALS~1\Temp\clclean.0001
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MskAgent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\BTBROA~1\Help\SMARTB~1\BTHelpNotifier. exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\browser\ybrwicon.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\mps\mscifapp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\browser\ycommon.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CreativeLicensing.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeperUI.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.co.uk/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://www.dell.co.uk/artbroadband
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {089FD14D-132B-48FC-8861-0048AE113215} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.dll
O2 - BHO: McBrwHelper Class - {227B8AA8-DAF2-4892-BD1D-73F568BCB24E} - c:\program files\mcafee.com\mps\mcbrhlpr.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee PopupKiller - {3EC8255F-E043-4cae-8B3B-B191550C2A22} - c:\program files\mcafee.com\mps\popupkiller.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee AntiPhishing Filter - {41D68ED8-4CFF-4115-88A6-6EBB8AF19000} - c:\program files\mcafee\spamkiller\mcapfbho.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: UberButton Class - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLASHX_W.DLL
O2 - BHO: YahooTaggedBM Class - {65D886A2-7CA7-479B-BB95-14D1EFB7946A} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\YIeTagBm.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - c:\program files\mcafee\virusscan\scriptcl.dll
O2 - BHO: SidebarAutoLaunch Class - {F2AA9440-6328-4933-B7C9-A6CCDF9CBF6D} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\browser\YSidebarIEBHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor - {0BF43445-2F28-4351-9252-17FE6E806AA0} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAAnotif] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaanotif.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTSysVol] "C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MBMon] Rundll32 CTMBHA.DLL,MBMon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VoiceCenter] "C:\Program Files\Creative\VoiceCenter\AndreaVC.exe" /tray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] "C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe" SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKDetectorExe] "C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MSKDetct.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DLA] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKAGENTEXE] C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MskAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Motive SmartBridge] C:\PROGRA~1\BTBROA~1\Help\SMARTB~1\BTHelpNotifier. exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [YBrowser] C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\browser\ybrwicon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MPSExe] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\mps\mscifapp.exe" /embedding
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PE2CKFNT SE] "C:\Program Files\Ulead Systems\Ulead Photo Express 2 SE\ChkFont.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UserFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -u
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiteAdvisor] "C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SetDefaultMIDI] MIDIDef.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Creative Detector] "C:\Program Files\Creative\MediaSource\Detector\CTDetect.exe" /R
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {39FD89BF-D3F1-45b6-BB56-3582CCF489E1} - c:\program files\mcafee\spamkiller\mcapfbho.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: McAfee AntiPhishing Filter - {39FD89BF-D3F1-45b6-BB56-3582CCF489E1} - c:\program files\mcafee\spamkiller\mcapfbho.dll
O9 - Extra button: BT Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yiesrvc.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~4\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O12 - Plugin for .wav: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\npqtplugin2.dll
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} (McAfee.com Operating System Class) - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/sh...1/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {E991BDE0-9816-4094-853E-6BDB60F0342D} (Get_ActiveX Control) - http://apps.corel.com/nos_dl_manager...etOpPlugin.ocx
O18 - Protocol: siteadvisor - {3A5DC592-7723-4EAA-9EE6-AF4222BCF879} - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SiteAdv.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WRNotifier - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WRLogonNTF.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Labs Licensing Service - Creative Labs - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Creative Labs Shared\Service\CreativeLicensing.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee E-mail Proxy (Emproxy) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\McAfee\EmProxy\emproxy.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMon) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\iaantmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee HackerWatch Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\HackerWatch\HWAPI.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Update Manager (mcmispupdmgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Protection Manager (mcpromgr) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcpromgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Redirector Service (McRedirector) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\redirsvc\redirsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SpamKiller Server (MskService) - McAfee Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\SPAMKI~1\MSKSrvr.exe
O23 - Service: Intel NCS NetService (NetSvc) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\PROSetWired\NCS\Sync\NetSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: SiteAdvisor Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\SiteAdvisor\6028\SAService.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (WebrootSpySweeperService) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe
O23 - Service: YPCService - Yahoo! Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\YPCSER~1.EXE


I look forward to your reply because I never had the Runtime Error problem before.

Many thanks

Regards


Erik

Vincent,

Sorry, I forgot to add that my searches from Google once I have gone into launching IE 'without add-ons' do not redirect anymore from my brief checks but now go straight to the search result. Good news it would appear!

I look forward to your reply. Erik.

Vincent,

Please ignore points 1 & 3 in my previous reply to you.

I closed down my pc again and waited for 30secs. When I re-booted the IE was fine and the Runtime Error messages had gone. The system seems okay!

Look forward to your reply.


Erik

2. When I started my PC after Safe Mode a Microsoft Security announcement came up (I have never seen one before) saying it had found a trojan: win32/Alureon.A

Let us know if that notice occurs again - it is likely to now be a resolved infection (via critical updates).





To help avoid serious infection again, please look carefully at this post for some excellent preventative measures. Prevention must be made the first line of defense to improve upon.



ONLY ONCE you are as clean as possible from any needed cleanup steps - As a final cleanup step (after serious infection), it may be advisable to Reset and Re-enable your System Restore to remove any bad files that MAY have been backed up by Windows . The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs changing them. And, this is the only complete way to clean these files: (You will lose all previous restore points which could likely be infected, anyway.)

PLEASE NOTE: you will need to log into your computer with an account that has full administrator access. You will know if the account has administrator access because you will be able to see the System Restore tab. If the tab is missing, you are logged in under a limited account. Accordingly and of further note; it can be very unsafe to run with admin rights on any PC that you browse the Internet with.


(Windows XP)

FOLDER LOCATION: c:\System Volume Information\_restore….

To Turn OFF System Restore.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
3. On the System Restore tab, check Turn off System Restore or Turn off System Restore on all drives.
4. Click Apply.

REBOOT.

To Turn ON System Restore.

1. Follow the steps in the previous section, but in step 3, uncheck Turn off System Restore or Turn off System Restore on all drives. Then click OK.
2. Create new System Restore points.

(Windows ME)

FOLDER LOCATION: c:\_RESTORE\TEMP\….

See the following link for instructions:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...rc=sec_doc_nam




To reduce the re-infection potential for malware and protect your PC against spyware, here are a few helpful suggestions:

1. Keep Windows and Internet Explorer current with the latest critical security updates from Microsoft . This will patch many of the security holes through which attackers can gain access to your computer . You CANNOT complete this update using an alternate browser – you must use Internet Explorer.
   http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5co...t.aspx?ln=en-us
   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp
   
   • http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11273
     If you surf to questionable (blockable) parts of the Web, you could encounter sites that compromise your PC without any user interaction. In experiments [reported Aug 2005], Microsoft identified 752 specific addresses owned by 287 Web sites that contain programs able to install themselves on a completely unpatched Windows XP system. Also, be aware that the WinXP Service Pack 2 was an update that focused almost exclusively on security. Also reported was that a fully patched Windows XP SP2 system cannot be compromised by any such discovered rogue Web sites.
   
   
2. Run your antivirus software regularly, and to keep its definitions up-to-date. If you are thinking about switching (using a real-time AV tool only one at a time), there are some good free Antivirus programs that are decent, including AVG and Avast!.
   AVG: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
   Avast: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
   
   
3. In addition to using Ad-aware, consider using another free malware scanning/removal program :
   Adaware SE: http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Person...ubj=dl&tag=top5
   Spybot S&D: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Dest...tml?tag=lst-0-1
   
   
   AVG Anti-Spyware : http://free.grisoft.com/doc/20/lng/us/tpl/v5
   
   
   Microsoft Windows Defender beta 2 : http://www.download.com/Microsoft-Wi...ml?tag=lst-0-1
   
   
4. Consider using a free firewall if you are not already using one (use only one firewall at a time – normally you will need to disable the MS firewall). Some good free ones (for incoming and added outgoing traffic protection) are:
   Kerio Personal Firewall: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Kerio.cfm
   *** After 30 days, Kerio shuts down selected features, but will continue to run in 'free' mode.
   Zone Alarm: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/comparison.jsp?lid=ho_za
   
   It is not a bad idea to also consider using a Router/Hardware firewall device where you have a High-Speed Internet access connection. A software firewall may occasionally need to be disabled or it gets/remains disabled by someone or something. Such an added layer of security consistency has a lot of merit to it.
   
   
5. Consider using an alternate free browser for general web surfing but you must use IE for windows updates. The use of Firefox (or similar alternate) mitigates the many types of malware that are now possible when using IE ActiveX based components.
   Mozilla Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
   
   
6. Consider increasing your browser security by using these programs:
   SpywareGuard will help protect your homepage from being hijacked: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
   SpywareBlaster will increase browser protection by blocking access to thousands of known malware sites by adding them to IE's restricted sites zone. It essentially blocks known- bad ActiveX program items from being installed or running on your computer. Download it here: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
   • If you use SpywareBlaster, you can also use a customblocklist to add even more entries into IE restricted sites zone. Go to this site for the current list and how to use instructions: http://customblockinglist.cjb.net/
     
   • IE-SPYAD is similar in that it adds thousands more known malware sites to IE's restricted zone. Download it here:
     http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/resource.htm
   
   
7. A HOSTS file can block Internet access to thousands of known-bad sites by not allowing you any easy browser access to such sites knowingly or unknowingly. Use HJT to determine if a current HOSTS file exists and any contents therein:
   • Run the HiJackThis tool and select ‘Open the Misc Tools section’.
   • Next select ‘Open host file manager’ button.
   • Use the ‘Open in Notepad’ button in XP/W2K or use WORDPAD if necessary [type wordpad.exe in the RUN box (Start>Run)] and load the FILE PATH identified in HJT.
   • Go to http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt . # Read the initial instructions #. Copy and paste (append or replace) the RELEVANT host address entry contents of that file into Notepad or Wordpad and save the updated file contents.
     
     EXCERPT:
     #start of lines added by WinHelp2002
     # [Misc A - Z]
     127.0.0.1 phpadsnew.abac.com
     127.0.0.1 a.abnad.net
     127.0.0.1 e.abnad.net
     127.0.0.1 www.accoona.com #[Adware-Accoona][Adware.Atoolb][Panda.Accoona]
     .
     .
     .
     #end of lines added by WinHelp2002

*Remember just like your primary anti-virus software, it is important to:

• Keep all of these programs up-to-date (using auto-updates where possible), and
• Use them on a regular (minimum weekly) basis.

REALITY CHECK:

• Who else uses your PC? What are the potential risks created by multiple (potentially loose cannon) users and why?
• What about bad luck, simple mistakes, and bad browsing choices (SEE: www.siteadvisor.com and their BLOG)?
• SEE: The Dangers of Popularity (for Popular SEARCH TERMS):
  http://blog.siteadvisor.com/2006/08/...pularity.shtml
  
  The correlation of search term popularity and search term riskiness illustrates how malicious activity tends to follow and exploit consumer behavior. Users demand "free," and bad actors flock to fill corresponding search results with their deceptive offerings. All too often, users don't realize the detrimental consequences of these sites until their systems crash from spyware or their inboxes become choked with spam.

ABOVE ALL, it is most imperative that users exercise "safe surfing" habits such as banning or at least verifying email attachments (with scanning tools) before opening, and by not executing programs unless obtained from a trusted (or researched) source, etc.



In general, always research any unfamiliar links or products that you might want to access or download. In particular, the SiteAdvisor site and other links listed in my signature have continued to make a significant difference to my clients’ PC health due to better-informed browsing habits and choices. Peer-to-Peer and FREE download sites add a level of risk that many should seriously take into account and adjust their behavior accordingly.

Additionally, TEMPORARY files are both a significant source of clutter and potential hiding places for MALWARE content. Clean out those areas periodically - at least weekly.




Those that continue to want to use ‘Limewire’, 'BitTorrent', 'Bearshare', ‘Morpheus’ or other P2P applications, can expect to see the possibility of more malware issues (such as bad executables):

http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/bearshare.com


You would be well-advised to at least consider strengthening your real-time prevention tools and use either Spy Sweeper or Spyware Doctor, and possibly also run AVG Anti-Spyware - formally known as EWIDO (mainly for anti-trojan defensive purposes) in real-time, as well (paid version=realtime). No combination of tools, however, can ever be completely fail-safe for all possible issues.