Proxy Settings

[Max]

I can't update the product because I can't find the proxy
settings. I have version 1.0.509 on XPsp2.

My browser (IE) was seriously compromised.
Windows Explorer fails the first time I use it each day.
I now use FireFox but I want to fix the problem without a
total rebuild.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

There may be more than one issue here. One is "fixing" IE. The other is
the error message which is apparently keeping you from updating. The two
may be integrally related, or not.

From the start let me say that I don't have a fix for the inability to
update. I see one post today from someone who states that uninstalling and
reinstalling fixed this for him. I don't have a test case to try that on.

However, that message can also be generated if, for example IE or OE are set
to work offline.

What have you tried, in terms of fixing IE?

I assume that you likely at some point needed to do:

netsh winsock reset

It would also be a good idea to do:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/299357

(reset tcp/ip.)

Beyond that, the next step would be reinstalling or repairing:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378

If you've been through all that and none of it has done the job--say more
about exactly what symptoms you see with IE?

 

[Guest]

However, that message can also be generated if, for example IE or OE are set
to work offline.

OE is uninstalled
IE is online and will browse the net but only through the
malwares website. (IE says it is still set up for our proxy)
Firefox just works. But then it is set to go through our
proxy on port 3128.

What have you tried, in terms of fixing IE?

I ran MSAntispyware and it found 2 trojans that both
antivirus apps and both spybot and adaware didn't find.
I was also able to fix the "hosts" file

I assume that you likely at some point needed to do:
netsh winsock reset

From what I read in the kb articles, this is not needed
here, but I may be wrong

about exactly what symptoms you see with IE?

The first time I use Windows Explorer after a reboot, it
crashes, next time it works like it should.
The first time I use Internet Explorer after a reboot,
it brings up a dialog box with "Is your computer infect
with spyware" (poor english intended") and then it works.

FAQ for Microsoft Antispyware:
http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm

I've been to the FAQ and all the kb articles repeatedly
mentioned in this forum. Nothing helps yet!

I'd like to download the latest updates with Firefox and
put them in the correct place manually so that I can do one
more scan with the very latest and maybe fix these errors.

Thanks
Max

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I've heard from folks who have said that manually moving the .GCD files that
constitute the definitions from one machine to another "works." I haven't
verified this myself, and others have implied that this won't work, so
mileage may vary.

Although you can download the program via Firefox, the definitions in the
download have not been updated since Feb 16th.

So--the only way I know to do this is to move the definition files
physically from another machine via removable media--CD or USB stick, for
example.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;892519

is the kb article showing which files are involved.

I think you might be best served by going through a cleaning protocol using
HijackThis and expert help from a third-party forum. Ron Kinner has offered
this help directly by email in these groups, and the forum I usually
recommend is Jim Eshelman's--another Microsoft MVP:

http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

 

[Ron Kinner]

Somebody mention my name?

Get HijackThis.exe from
http://tomcoyote.org/hjt/hjt199//HijackThis.exe

Save it to C:\hjt (new folder) then Open it and select
Scan and Save Log. Note where you saved the log then
send it to me as an attachment. Put Hijack in the subject
so I'll know it's not spam.

Ron Kinner
Microsoft MVP 2004 & 2005
(e-mail address removed)