Internet Trouble - Possible Nasty

[ndmmxiaomayi]

ok i have had yet another error on the machine....i was thinking it says any newly installed software might be the problemo i have installed microsoft office 2007 recently that mght be it?


error: win32k.sys - address BF8CEEFO base at BF800000 data stamp 45F013F6

Doesn't seem like that's the cause.

The WinPFind3U doesn't reveal anything bad.

You have to get support from some other sites that specializes in such issues.

One place is Tech Support Forum

[joe1joe1joe2]

right ok, sent it back to Dell they had to put new memory into the laptop, its all fixed now

many thanks

[ndmmxiaomayi]

Glad to hear that.

Update Java Runtime Environment (JRE)

Your JRE is out of date. The current version is Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 4.

1. Click on Start > Control Panel and double click on Add/Remove Programs. Locate J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 10 and click on Change/Remove to uninstall it.
2. Repeat for these old versions of JRE:
   • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
   • J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6
   • Java(TM) 6 Update 2
   • Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 1
3. Click here to visit Java's website.
4. Scroll down to Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 Update 4. Click on Download.
5. For the Platform field, select Windows. For the Language field, select English.
6. Read through the Java License Agreement, then check (tick) I agree to the Java SE Runtime Environment 6 License Agreement.
7. Click on Continue.
8. Click on jre-6u4-windows-i586-p.exe to download it. Save this to a convenient location.
9. Run this installation to update your Java.

Update Adobe Reader

1. Please uninstall Adobe Reader 7.0.9 before installing the latest version by going to Start > Control Panel and double clicking on Add/Remove Programs. Locate Adobe Reader 7.0.9 and click on Change/Remove to uninstall it.
2. Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3. Select your Windows version and click on Download. If you are using Internet Explorer, you will receive prompts. Allow the installation to be ran and it will be installed automatically for you.
   
   If you are using other browsers, it will prompt you to save a file. Save this file to your desktop and run it to install the latest version of Adobe Reader.
4. Close your Internet browser and open it again.

After you've updated your programs, please post back a new HijackThis log.

[joe1joe1joe2]

eermmm....they gave me new memory

i lost everything on my computer :( so need to start from scratch.....

[ndmmxiaomayi]

Sorry to hear that.

Here are some ways to prevent an infection again.

Keep your system updated

Microsoft releases patches for Windows and Office products regularly to patch up Windows and Office products loopholes and fix any bugs found. Please ensure that you visit the following websites regularly or do update your system regularly.

Install the updates immediately if they are found. Reboot your computer if necessary, revisit Windows Update and Office update sites until there are no more updates to be installed.

To update Windows

Go to Start > All Programs > Windows Update

To update Office

Open up any Office program.

Go to Help > Check for Updates

Alternatively, you can visit the links below to update Windows and Office products.

Windows Update
Office Update

If you are forgetful, you can change some settings so that you will be informed of updates. Here's how:

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Automatic Updates
2. Select Automatic (recommended) radio button if you want the updates to be downloaded and installed without prompting you.
3. Select Download updates for me, but let me chose when to install them radio button if you want the updates to be downloaded automatically but to be installed at another time.
4. Select Notify me but don't automatically download or install them radio button if you want to be notified of the updates.

Besides Windows that needs regular updating, antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall programs update regularly too.

Please make sure that you update your antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware programs at least once a week.

Be careful when opening attachments and downloading files.

1. Never open email attachments, not even if they are from someone you know. If you need to open them, scan them with your antivirus program before opening.
2. Never open emails from unknown senders.
3. Beware of emails that warn about viruses that are spreading, especially those from antivirus vendors. These email addresses can be easily spoofed. Check the antivirus vendor websites to be sure.
4. Be careful of what you download. Only download files from known sources. Also, avoid cracked programs. If you need a particular program that costs too much for you, try finding free alternatives on Sourceforge or Pricelessware.

Stop malicious scripts

Windows by default allow scripts (which is VBScript and JavaScript) to run and some of these scripts are malicious. Use Noscript by Symantec or Script Defender by AnalogX to handle these scripts.

Backup regularly

You never know when your PC will become unstable or become so infected that you can't recover it. Follow this Microsoft article to learn how to backup. Follow this article by Microsoft to restore your backups.

Alternatively, you can use 3rd-party programs to back up your data. One example can be found at Bleeping Computer.

Make your Internet Explorer safer

For Internet Explorer 6

1. Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools > Options.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Click on the Internet icon.
4. Click on the Custom Level button.
5. Under Download signed ActiveX controls, select Prompt.
6. Under Download unsigned ActiveX controls, select Disable.
7. Under Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe, select Disable.
8. Under Installation of desktop items, select Prompt.
9. Under Launching programs and files in an IFRAME, select Prompt.
10. Under Navigate sub-frames across different domains, select Prompt.
11. Under Allow paste operations via script, select Disable.
12. Click OK to apply these settings.
13. If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
14. Press OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

For a pictorial guide, please refer to this article.

For Internet Explorer 7

If you intend to upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, please read this article to configure Internet Explorer 7 properly.

Avoid P2P

P2P may be a great way to get lots of stuffs, but it is a great way to get infected as well. There's no way to tell if the file being shared is infected. Worse still, some worms spread via P2P networks, infecting you as well. If you do need to use them, use them sparingly. Check this list of clean and infected P2P programs if you need to use one.

Prevent a re-infection

1. Winpatrol
   Winpatrol is heuristic protection program, meaning it looks for patterns in codes that work like malware. It also takes a snapshot of your system's critical resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without you knowing. You can read more about Winpatrol's features here.
   
   You can get a free copy of Winpatrol or use the Plus version for more features.
   
   You can read Winpatrol's FAQ if you run into problems.
   
2. Spyware Blaster
   SpywareBlaster is a program that is used to secure Internet Explorer by making it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. It does this by disabling known offending ActiveX programs from running at all.
   
   You can download SpywareBlaster from Javacool.
   
   If you need help in using SpywareBlaster, you can read SpywareBlaster's tutorial at Bleeping Computer.
   
3. SpywareGuard
   Just as an antivirus program scans a file for viruses before opening it, SpywareGuard does the same thing, except that it scans it for spywares.
   
   You can download SpywareGuard from Javacool.
   
   If you need help in using SpywareGuard, you can SpywareGuard's tutorial at Bleeping Computer.
   
4. IE-SPYAD
   IE-SPYAD adds over 5000 sites to your Internet Explorer restricted zone so that you will be protected if the website turns out to be a bad one. Sites that are in the restricted zone of Internet Explorer can't have any scripts ran, no downloads and cookies. However, you can still connect to these sites.
   
   You can download IE-SPYAD from Spyware Warrior. Be sure to read the whole website carefully for instructions on usage of IE-SPYAD.
   
5. Hosts File
   A Hosts file is like a phone book. You look up someone's name in the phone book before calling him/her. Similarly, your PC will look up the website's IP address before you can view the website.
   
   Hosts file will replace your current Hosts file with another one containing well-known advertisement sites, spyware sites and other bad sites. This new Hosts file will protect you by re-directing these bad sites to 127.0.0.1.
   
   Here are some Hosts files:
   
   MVPS Hosts File
   Bluetack's Hosts File
   Bluetack's Host Manager
   hpHosts
   
   A tutorial about Hosts File can be found at Malware Removal.
   
6. Spybot Search and Destroy
   Spybot Search & Destroy is another program for scanning spywares and adwares. Not only so, it has other preventive options as well. You are strongly encouraged to run a scan at least once per week.
   
   Spybot Search & Destroy can be downloaded from here.
   
   If you need help in using Spybot Search & Destroy, you can read Spybot Search and Destroy tutorial at Bleeping Computer.
   
7. a-squared Free
   a-squared Free is also another program for scanning spywares and adwares. It doesn't have preventive features like Spybot Search & Destroy though.
   
   You can download a-squared Free from here.
   
   Before downloading any anti-spyware programs, always check the Rogue/Suspect list of anti-spyware programs and Malwarebytes RogueNET. This will save you from a lot of trouble. If in doubt, don't ever download it.
   
8. SiteHound Toolbar
   SiteHound is a toolbar that warns you if you go to a site that is known to scam people, that has potentially lots of viruses or spywares or has questionable contents. If you know the site, you can enter it; if you don't, it will bring you back to the previous page. Currently, SiteHound works for Internet Explorer and Firefox only.

Use an alternative Internet Browser

Many of the exploits are directed to users of Internet Explorer. Try using a different browser instead.

Firefox
Opera
K-Meleon

Use an alternative email client

If you are using Outlook Express as your default email client, try using Thunderbird or Pegasus Mail instead.

Here are some more things to read about:

List of clean and infected download managers
Configuring Skype
Greater email safety
Phishing - what is it?
Configuring Outlook Express
The Unofficial Cookie FAQ
Securing your home wireless network
80 Super Security Tips
The different classes of security softwares