Since I seem to be on a security kick lately I thought I might as well post some detailed directions I put together for a friend on another board who's having severe issues with all the little nasties...
(Feel free to comment, ask questions or add to the guide)
1. Update your anti-spyware & antivirus programs to the newest versions available.
2. Run Disk Cleanup (If you have a third party app like
CCleaner,
Clean Up!,
ATF Cleaner or
Advanced Windows Care run that instead).
3. Download
HijackThis from Trend Micro.
- Run a scan and save the logfile (be sure to change the name from "hijackthis.log" something you will remember like "hijackthisbefore.log").
4. Open "Add/Remove Programs" and check to see if there is anything weird that needs to be uninstalled (unknown toolbars, search utilities etc)
5. Turn off the real time monitoring of all your security programs (any antispyware, antivirus, firewalls)
6. Download & run
McAfee Stinger.
7. Download & run the newest version of Microsoft's
Malicious Software Removal Tool
8. Go to
eset Nod 32,
F-Secure,
BitDefender or
TrendMicro and run an online scan (these all use ActiveX so you must use IE).
9. Reboot the computer and start up in
safe mode.
10. Do a full scan with your primary anti-spyware program. Once the scan is complete & repairs made make sure the program is completely closed. If there is an icon in the system tray that means it is still running. Right click on the icon and select “exit” (or “close”, “shutdown” etc).
- Repeat with your secondary anti-spyware program.
- Finally do a full scan with your anti-virus program.
11. Reboot normally
12. Again turn of real time monitoring and completely close any of your antispy/virus programs that install on start up.
13. Run your anti-spyware scanners & anti-virus again as you did while in safe mode.
14. Run HijackThis a final time and again give the log file a unique name to distinguish it (ie “hijackthisafter.log”.
15. If you are still having problems you can copy & paste your HijackThis logfiles into the analyzer at
I Am Not A Geek which will help you find files that may be causing problems. Google anything listed as bad to find specific methods of removing the problem files. (Be careful as the analyzer does give false positives at times.)
- You can also paste the logs at the Castle Cops,
Hijack This Logs forum. Start a new thread with a title describing the problem you are having and then paste your logfiles into the main body of the post. The members of the forum will be happy to help you figure out what the problem is through your log file.
