jayw_ said:
IE 'Explorer Bar' problem: I have Windows XP home. On the internet, when
you click 'view' then 'explorer bar' I have in the menu an item "Elite
Sidebar". How do I permanently get rid of that? I have tried unchecking
it,
but every time someone uses the search function on the computer, it
returns.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. (I am not very savy when
it
comes to these things).
From the looks of the things I found from an Internet search, most notably
http://www.pctools.com/mrc/infections/id/226/Elite_Sidebar - which
classifies it as a Browser Helper Object (BHO) - it would appear to not be a
simple solution. Get the following ANYWAY:
1. MSN Toolbar - Prevents rogue popups inside IE.
Popups don't just "pop up". They also hide activity like installation of
malicious software, Spyware, Adware etc. This toolbar prevents popups from
happening (some gaming sites don't like this but you can adjust
accordingly). Automatic running and updating, with a few prompts, but not
much more.
http://toolbar.msn.com/
2. Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (beta) - Must Have
This is similar to the resident blocker Spybot S&D has, and compliments it
well. Auto-updating is settable, as is auto-scanning (recommended to do at
3am when everyone's supposed to be in bed).
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
3. Ad-Aware Personal Edition - Must Have
One of the first of its kind, still one of the best, and like the others
here, free. Manual launching, and manual updating, so you have to develop a
habit of running this once in a while just to stay clean.
http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
4. Spybot Search & Destroy - Must Have
This is an absolute must, just like the rest on this list. Spybod S&D has a
blocking feature similar to the Microsoft Anti-Spyware product, but I find a
combination of all of these tools are necessary to really cover your bases
and prevent bad installations of worse software. You can set this up to
block with a resident tool (recommended), as well as check for updates when
you run it - but one must still develop the habit of running this every week
(if not a little less) to clean and/or fix.
http://www.spybot.info/en/mirrors/index.html
5. SpywareBlaster - Must Have
Another blocker, this one primarily works on web installations that want to
put stuff on your machine and get information from it. Automatic, doesn't
have to be run to work as it's resident. Updating is manual. Works with
Spybot S&D as well.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
6. Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool (most likely via Windows
update, but...)
In the off chance you've got something bad onboard and can't find it with
your virus scanner, or Norton (a product I've stopped recommending
altogether as it fouls up your system something fierce when you uninstall
it - bad sports, Symantec!). As far as Virus protection see below.
http://tinyurl.com/3vvsc
Good luck!
--
Stephen Goodman
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