Cool web infection

[Alan]

My nephew's computer has become infected with several variations of the
coolweb garbage. He has run updated versions of Spybot S & D, Adaware,
Coolwebshredder and several other antimalware programs, but the
infections keep returning. He has reformatted the hard drive several
times to no avail. Since the cool web variations write to the registry,
I thought that a reformat would take care of this. Doesn't a reformat
"clean up" the registry?

I've suggested that he go the Hijackthis route and post his logs. Any
thing else he can do?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Jerry]

A reformat doesn't 'clean-up' the registry - it wipes out everything on the
hard drive and you are required to reinstall everything. If a reformat was
really done then how did a reinstall of all software cause the problem to
re-occur. Somethings is missing in your problem description.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Alan,

As Jerry stated formatting the drive would have deleted the registry
along with everything else on the drive. I suggest you go to AumHa
Forums and ask the folks there for help.
http://forum.aumha.org/index.php?c=12

 

[JJ]

Could the infected files be on backup files that you may be installing after
a reformat and clean install ? JJ

 

[Richard Urban]

A format/install will indeed get rid of a coolweb infection. Your friend is
then doing something else to put it back on:

1. Installing dubious free programs that contain the infection
2. Going to questionable web sites that will re-infect his computer


--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew half as much as you think you know,
You'd realize you didn't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Alan]

A format/install will indeed get rid of a coolweb infection. Your friend is
then doing something else to put it back on:

1. Installing dubious free programs that contain the infection
2. Going to questionable web sites that will re-infect his computer

Thanks to all for your advice. I passed on the Auhma link. Since he's
in Chicago and I'm in Houston, it's a bit tough to get ALL the
information in one tidy little package and then pass it along without
adding my own biases. I believe all touched on various parts of the
problem. Now it's up to him. Thanks again.