VIRUS

[STEVE K]

I've got another virus. I don't understand this - I
don't download files (except for music occassionally and
then vendor has an anti-virus program running). I am
running Windows XP Home edition. I have Norton anti-
virus (which I'm begining to think is worthless since
I've been "infected" a dozen times since I've had it -
always by somekind of "backdoor.trojan"
or "download.trojan" and it NEVER finds it til after the
fact and is never able to repair the infected file.
Plus, I run two different firewall programs and my AOL
uses virus scan.

At any rate, a windows file, the "ast_exe" program was
infected and has been quarantined. What is this
program? What does it do? Is it essential? And, how do
I get a replacement copy? Thanks. Steve K

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've got another virus. I don't understand this - I
don't download files (except for music occasionally and
then vendor has an anti-virus program running). I am
running Windows XP Home edition. I have Norton anti-
virus (which I'm beginning to think is worthless since
I've been "infected" a dozen times since I've had it -
always by somekind of "backdoor.trojan"
or "download.trojan" and it NEVER finds it till after the
fact and is never able to repair the infected file.
Plus, I run two different firewall programs and my AOL
uses virus scan.

At any rate, a windows file, the "ast_exe" program was
infected and has been quarantined. What is this
program? What does it do? Is it essential? And, how do
I get a replacement copy? Thanks. Steve K

That's a part of spyware/malware - not necessarily a virus-class item.
I see you have a nice start on securing your machine, but your diligence is
far from a complete solution. Please read through this list of things you
can do to better protect yourself while on the Internet. As I see you have
an AOL email address, I must also recommend you upgrade (if you have not) to
AOL 9.0 or greater before you follow any of the advice. The CDs can be
found at just about any convenience/grocery/retail establishment every
made - they are very generous (or annoying - depending on your point of
view) about providing this media. (My actual recommendation would be to
switch to a different ISP, as I have seen NO advantage to using AOL over any
other ISP and less than no advantage to using AOL over broadband. However,
that is not my concern, helping you get rid of this current spyware and
protect yourself in the future is.)

Turn on that firewall...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/home/using/howto/homenet/icf.asp
(It has been reported that it now works with AOL 9.0+)


Make sure you have all the updates (critical) installed from:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
(Scan for updates, Review and Install)


Get rid of the spy/ad/mal-ware..
(Yes - using MORE than one of these..
I recommend at least the first three. Also..
UPDATE the definitions for them before using.)

Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.net/

Lavasoft AdAware
http://www.lavasoft.de

CWSShredder
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

Hijack This!
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

I also like "The Cleaner" and "SpywareBlaster" and "SpywareGuard".
- http://www.moosoft.com/
- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/

The first is a PAY product, but useable for 30 days - it has found and
eliminated problems in the past the others did not. The latter two are
prevention mechanisms. I like SpywareGuard for those with enough processor
to have something running like antivirus software - and it prevents browser
hijacking quite well.

And Assortment of Others:
http://www.merijn.org/downloads.html


After you cleanup your PC somewhat of spy/ad/mal-ware, verify your antivirus
software is updated and run a full scan of your computer. If you have no
antivirus software - get one NOW! Grisoft AntiVirus:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php


Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to about
80 to 120MB (seems to be an optimal size for the normal user)

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section,
do the following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the
"Amount of disk space to use:" to something between 80MB
and 120MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to
"Delete all offline contents" (the checkbox) and click
OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10 minutes or
more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer
- Re-open Internet Explorer.


Uninstall any software you do not use often/ever. (If you have something
installed but never use it, uninstall it.) If you go through Control
Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and see things you seldom if ever use, it is to
your advantage to remove it.


Also, if you are tired of Web Page Pop-Ups/Unders.. You could try the
Google Toolbar.
http://toolbar.google.com/


Stop loading applications at logon.. run MSCONFIG and look under the startup
tab for things you DON'T want to startup! Search the Internet with Google
to discover what things are safe to remove and what things may even be
malware infecting your computer.


Better control your email and lessen the amount of time you spend dealing
with SPAM:
SpamBayes
http://spambayes.sourceforge.net
or
Spamihilator.
http://www.spamihilator.com

 

[Guest]

http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/windowsxp/antivi
rus.asp
for a FREE year of anti-virus from microsofts security
site,check the one from computer associates,you'll need
to follow the instrucrions to remove norton,and load
there's,also comes with a free year firewall too!Need a
email where they send you a link to download to.I down
load music too,Norton never would catch it till the
damage was done,I downloaded EZ-AV from CA and it found 4
trojan's Norton didn't catch!I've got kids that play the
on line games,Norton would let them on and try to fix
it,UNABLE TO ACCESS FILE,CA removed 'em and repaired,I
like it very much during a game it caught a trojan and
disconected from the game before it was loaded,and it was
FREE,in 10 months,I will be renewing this product.I'll
never load Norton or mcAfee again.This is a great product
for free,also really GOOD firewall lets you know when
your computer access's the internet and gives you the
option not to let it.You should get ad aware too if you
don't have it,it's FREE too,from
http://www.webattack.com/get/adaware.shtml get
it and run it,when I had a virus Norton couldn't
access,ad aware removed it was a 900 dialer,trying to get
my dial modem to call a 900 #,good thing i have cable.Got
that one from Kazaa music.

 

[Guest]

As far as msconfig goes,start---run---type msconfig---ok--
-startup tab---uncheck everything,don't restart,go
to
http://www.kellys-korner-
xp.com/regs_edits/msconfigdisabled.vbs
go to
this link and open it,run it and remove ALL msconfig
listings,then go into you antivirus and check it to come
on at start up,that's ALL you need to run at startup any
way.(That link is from http://www.kellys-korner-
xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm ,a MS
MVP)