"Antivirus Soft" prevents various applications from running.

[mlehcar]

Hi,

Things are running smooth and looking good, thanks!

[Blade81]

Good. Let's see the final steps then


THESE STEPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

Let's reset system restore
Reset and Re-enable your System Restore to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected. Please note you need Administrator Access to do clean the restore points.

1. Turn off System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

2. Reboot.

3. Turn ON System Restore.
On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
UN-Check *Turn off System Restore*.
Click Apply, and then click OK.
NOTE: only do this ONCE,NOT on a regular basis



Now lets uninstall ComboFix:

• Click START then RUN
• Now copy-paste Combofix /uninstall in the runbox and click OK

Please download OTC and save it to desktop.

• Double-click OTC.exe.
• Click the CleanUp! button.
• Select Yes when the
  Begin cleanup Process?
  prompt appears.
• If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
• The tool will delete itself once it finishes, if not delete it by yourself.

Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTC attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.


UPDATING WINDOWS AND INTERNET EXPLORER

IMPORTANT: You Need to Update Windows and Internet Explorer to protect your computer from the malware that is around on the Internet. Please go to the windows update site to get the critical updates.

If you are running Microsoft Office, or any portion thereof, go to the Microsoft's Office Update site and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed (Free) Microsoft Office Update.


Make your Internet Explorer more secure

This can be done by following these simple instructions:
From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.
Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.



The following are recommended third party programs that are designed to keep your computer clean. A link as well as a brief description is included with each item.

• hosts file:
  
  • Every version of windows has a hosts file as part of them.
  • In a very basic sense, they are used to locate webpages.
  • We can customize a hosts file so that it blocks certain webpages.
  • However, it can slow down certain computers.
  • This is why using a hosts file is optional!!
  
  Download it here. Make sure you read the instructions on how to install the hosts file. There is a good tutorial here
  If you decide to download the hosts file, the slowdown problems can usually be avoided by following these steps:
  
  2. Click the start button (at the lower left hand corner of your screen)
  3. Click run
  4. In the dialog box, type services.msc
  5. hit enter, then locate dns client
  6. Highlight it, then double-click it.
  7. On the dropdown box, change the setting from automatic to manual.
  8. Click ok
• Run Secunia vulnerability check here and fix its findings.
  
• Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. For more info, check this webpage out.
  If you don't have a 3rd party firewall or a router behind NAT then I recommend getting one. I recommend either Online Armor Free or Comodo Firewall Pro (If you choose Comodo: Uncheck during installation Install Comodo HopSurf.., Make Comodo my default search provider and Make Comodo Search my homepage and install firewall ONLY!). Both providers have support forums that help with configuration related questions.

Just a final reminder for you. I am trying to stress these two points.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!! Make sure you do this about every 1-2 weeks.
Make sure all of your security programs are up to date.
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.



Once again, please post and tell me how things are going with your system... problems etc.

Have a great day,
Blade

[mlehcar]

Hi,

So things are looking good! I'm not gonna lie, I'm not exactly sure what everything you recently wanted me to download actually does, but I did most of it anyway, so here's hoping! I haven't done the host files yet, because I really don't understand it, but I'll get around to it once I get a chance to do more than a quick skim through of the tutorial!

Few questions though, for the host files is it only an Internet Explorer thing? I pretty much never use IE except when I follow a help link or something because it's my default browser (which I don't know how to change, I only use Firefox) which, I guess, is why I never update it...

And can I keep any of the programs you had me download previously, like Malwarebytes or ATF-cleaner, or should I be removing them?

Thanks again!

[Blade81]

You're welcome

Few questions though, for the host files is it only an Internet Explorer thing?

No, hosts file works on all browsers.

And can I keep any of the programs you had me download previously, like Malwarebytes or ATF-cleaner, or should I be removing them?

I recommend to keep those two and run them occasionally.

[mlehcar]

Okay, thanks!

Looks like I'm set. Is there anything else I should be doing, or am I all good?

Thank you!

[Blade81]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad I could help.

Note:If it has been four days or more since your last post, and the helper assisting you posted a response to that post to which you did not reply, your topic will not be reopened. At that point, if you still require help, please start a new topic and include a fresh HijackThis log and a link to your previous thread.

If it has been less than four days since your last response and you need the thread re-opened, please send me or MOD a private message (pm). A valid, working link to the closed topic is required.