a-squared and Trojan Scan

[Guest]

Hi,

I've been trying to download a-squared and Trojan Scan. Each time, with
both programs, I receive a message that says "error loading engine." I
followed the directions and changed my security settings to "Prompt - ActiveX
controls and plug-ins," "Enable - Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" and
"Enagle - Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting." I rebooted and
tried to download the programs a second time but I still receive the message
"error loading engine."

I meet the requirements:

- Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP or 2003 Server (I have Windows XP Pro)
- Internet Explorer 5.0 or later with ActiveX activated (I have IE v
6.0.2900.2180)

I have ActiveX activated in my Internet Options > Security > Custom Level as
I described above. Is there another setting that I need to change in order
for these programs to load?

Denise

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>

| Hi,
|
| I've been trying to download a-squared and Trojan Scan. Each time, with
| both programs, I receive a message that says "error loading engine." I
| followed the directions and changed my security settings to "Prompt - ActiveX
| controls and plug-ins," "Enable - Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" and
| "Enagle - Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting." I rebooted and
| tried to download the programs a second time but I still receive the message
| "error loading engine."
|
| I meet the requirements:
|
| - Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP or 2003 Server (I have Windows XP Pro)
| - Internet Explorer 5.0 or later with ActiveX activated (I have IE v
| 6.0.2900.2180)
|
| I have ActiveX activated in my Internet Options > Security > Custom Level as
| I described above. Is there another setting that I need to change in order
| for these programs to load?
|
| Denise

There are anti virus News Groups specifically for this type of discussion.

microsoft.public.scripting.virus.discussion
microsoft.public.security.virus
alt.comp.virus
alt.comp.anti-virus

If you think you are infected, you can use the following tool to remove the malware.

Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *

 

[Guest]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>

| Hi,
|
| I've been trying to download a-squared and Trojan Scan. Each time, with
| both programs, I receive a message that says "error loading engine." I
| followed the directions and changed my security settings to "Prompt - ActiveX
| controls and plug-ins," "Enable - Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" and
| "Enagle - Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting." I rebooted and
| tried to download the programs a second time but I still receive the message
| "error loading engine."
|
| I meet the requirements:
|
| - Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP or 2003 Server (I have Windows XP Pro)
| - Internet Explorer 5.0 or later with ActiveX activated (I have IE v
| 6.0.2900.2180)
|
| I have ActiveX activated in my Internet Options > Security > Custom Level as
| I described above. Is there another setting that I need to change in order
| for these programs to load?
|
| Denise

There are anti virus News Groups specifically for this type of discussion.

microsoft.public.scripting.virus.discussion
microsoft.public.security.virus
alt.comp.virus
alt.comp.anti-virus

If you think you are infected, you can use the following tool to remove the malware.

Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *

Thanks for the advice Dave. I don't see the option for Anti-Virus listed in
the left pane and Security is the next best option. Microsoft should put
Anti-Virus in the pane since there is a forum for it.

The reason that I want to run additional anti-virus/trojan/worm programs is
that the newest Microsoft updates that were uploaded and installed in my pc
caused my pc to creep along at about 1/10th it's normal speed in every area,
i.e., opening folders, files, websites, drives, etc. I want to ensure that
the reason for this is not because I have a virus/trojan/worm/malware/adware.
I've run numerous programs (Stinger, TrendMicro, CWShredder, AdAware,
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, Bit Defender, Norton AntiVirus
2004, Spybot and Microsoft Anti-Spyware), to detect these items and they have
come up empty. I was finally able to download and run a-squared but I still
can't upload Trojan Scan.

I haven't had a chance to run the programs you mentioned because I'm running
another program that will take 1/2 the night to complete, but I'll do them
tomorrow and let you know the results.

Denise

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>


| Thanks for the advice Dave. I don't see the option for Anti-Virus listed in
| the left pane and Security is the next best option. Microsoft should put
| Anti-Virus in the pane since there is a forum for it.
|
| The reason that I want to run additional anti-virus/trojan/worm programs is
| that the newest Microsoft updates that were uploaded and installed in my pc
| caused my pc to creep along at about 1/10th it's normal speed in every area,
| i.e., opening folders, files, websites, drives, etc. I want to ensure that
| the reason for this is not because I have a virus/trojan/worm/malware/adware.
| I've run numerous programs (Stinger, TrendMicro, CWShredder, AdAware,
| Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, Bit Defender, Norton AntiVirus
| 2004, Spybot and Microsoft Anti-Spyware), to detect these items and they have
| come up empty. I was finally able to download and run a-squared but I still
| can't upload Trojan Scan.
|
| I haven't had a chance to run the programs you mentioned because I'm running
| another program that will take 1/2 the night to complete, but I'll do them
| tomorrow and let you know the results.
|
| Denise

You are using the Microsoft CDO front end to News Groups.

The URL is...

http://support.microsoft.com/newsgr...LCID=US&ICP=GSS3&sd=GN&id=fh;en-us;newsgroups

Using a News client the URL is...

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus

McAfee Stinger is a tool that only target ~55 infectors, mostly internet Worms so unless you
know specifically that you are infected with a targeted infector you are just wasting your
time.

On the other hand, the McAfee module in my Multi AV Scanning Tool targets ~200,000 infectors
so it is much more worthwhile to use and the the infectors that Stingers targets is a subset
of that McAfee command line scanner.

 

[Guest]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>


| Thanks for the advice Dave. I don't see the option for Anti-Virus listed in
| the left pane and Security is the next best option. Microsoft should put
| Anti-Virus in the pane since there is a forum for it.
|
| The reason that I want to run additional anti-virus/trojan/worm programs is
| that the newest Microsoft updates that were uploaded and installed in my pc
| caused my pc to creep along at about 1/10th it's normal speed in every area,
| i.e., opening folders, files, websites, drives, etc. I want to ensure that
| the reason for this is not because I have a virus/trojan/worm/malware/adware.
| I've run numerous programs (Stinger, TrendMicro, CWShredder, AdAware,
| Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, Bit Defender, Norton AntiVirus
| 2004, Spybot and Microsoft Anti-Spyware), to detect these items and they have
| come up empty. I was finally able to download and run a-squared but I still
| can't upload Trojan Scan.
|
| I haven't had a chance to run the programs you mentioned because I'm running
| another program that will take 1/2 the night to complete, but I'll do them
| tomorrow and let you know the results.
|
| Denise

You are using the Microsoft CDO front end to News Groups.

The URL is...

http://support.microsoft.com/newsgr...LCID=US&ICP=GSS3&sd=GN&id=fh;en-us;newsgroups

Using a News client the URL is...

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.security.virus

McAfee Stinger is a tool that only target ~55 infectors, mostly internet Worms so unless you
know specifically that you are infected with a targeted infector you are just wasting your
time.

On the other hand, the McAfee module in my Multi AV Scanning Tool targets ~200,000 infectors
so it is much more worthwhile to use and the the infectors that Stingers targets is a subset
of that McAfee command line scanner.

===============================

Hi Dave,

I still see anti-virus under Security, and I'm speaking about security and
security programs, not an anti-virus since I don't have a virus that needs
discussion in the anti-virus forum. If I went there, they'd probably tell me
that I should have come to this forum.

I purchased McAfee and I feel that it was a waste of good money. It never
found any problems that other programs found, not even negligible risks that
AdAware finds. It was also incompatible with the other programs that I have
running so I removed it. I won't know if I'm specifically infected with a
targeted infector that Stinger looks for unless I run Stinger. The same can
be said of all the programs.

So far I've been able to download and install a-squared. I want to also
download and run TrojanScan at this url:

http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

I now use Sygate firewall. I used to use Avast with Windows firewall but I
couldn't use Sygate with Avast. So again it was a toss-up and I chose Sygate.

Right now, I'm using the process of elimination. I doubt very much if I
have a virus/trojan/worm in my pc but I want to know for sure so that I'll
know that it isn't one of them in my pc causing my pc to creep along when the
6/15/06 updates from Microsoft have been installed. Once I've determined
that, I'll know for sure that one or more of the updates aren't compatible
with another program in my pc and I will do selective updating to determine
which of the 10 updates it is. I backed up my entire C drive onto an
external hard drive and I turned off System Restore until I've run all of the
programs because the programs can't scan those files and they may contain a
virus/trojan/worm that I'd put right back into my pc if I chose an existing
restore point.

It seems that my way of thinking isn't your way of thinking but what I do
works for me. I've never had a virus/trojan/worm in my pc. Spybot and
AdAware have found cookies that they've considered spyware and they've been
eliminated. Up until yesterday, when the new updates were installed in my
pc, I didn't have the problem with my pc creeping along. Someone else who
spoke in this thread also mentioned that they caused him a problem. I would
then assume that the update(s) contain something that isn't compatible with
our systems.

Denise

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>


|
| Hi Dave,
|
| I still see anti-virus under Security, and I'm speaking about security and
| security programs, not an anti-virus since I don't have a virus that needs
| discussion in the anti-virus forum. If I went there, they'd probably tell me
| that I should have come to this forum.
|
| I purchased McAfee and I feel that it was a waste of good money. It never
| found any problems that other programs found, not even negligible risks that
| AdAware finds. It was also incompatible with the other programs that I have
| running so I removed it. I won't know if I'm specifically infected with a
| targeted infector that Stinger looks for unless I run Stinger. The same can
| be said of all the programs.
|
| So far I've been able to download and install a-squared. I want to also
| download and run TrojanScan at this url:
|
| http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
|
| I now use Sygate firewall. I used to use Avast with Windows firewall but I
| couldn't use Sygate with Avast. So again it was a toss-up and I chose Sygate.
|
| Right now, I'm using the process of elimination. I doubt very much if I
| have a virus/trojan/worm in my pc but I want to know for sure so that I'll
| know that it isn't one of them in my pc causing my pc to creep along when the
| 6/15/06 updates from Microsoft have been installed. Once I've determined
| that, I'll know for sure that one or more of the updates aren't compatible
| with another program in my pc and I will do selective updating to determine
| which of the 10 updates it is. I backed up my entire C drive onto an
| external hard drive and I turned off System Restore until I've run all of the
| programs because the programs can't scan those files and they may contain a
| virus/trojan/worm that I'd put right back into my pc if I chose an existing
| restore point.
|
| It seems that my way of thinking isn't your way of thinking but what I do
| works for me. I've never had a virus/trojan/worm in my pc. Spybot and
| AdAware have found cookies that they've considered spyware and they've been
| eliminated. Up until yesterday, when the new updates were installed in my
| pc, I didn't have the problem with my pc creeping along. Someone else who
| spoke in this thread also mentioned that they caused him a problem. I would
| then assume that the update(s) contain something that isn't compatible with
| our systems.
|
| Denise

McAfee focuses on viruses and Trojans and some non-viral malware while Ad-aware SE focuses
on non-viral malware.

Two differnt products geared twords two different sub-types of malware.

 

[Guest]

From: "HartsVideo" <[email protected]>


|
| Hi Dave,
|
| I still see anti-virus under Security, and I'm speaking about security and
| security programs, not an anti-virus since I don't have a virus that needs
| discussion in the anti-virus forum. If I went there, they'd probably tell me
| that I should have come to this forum.
|
| I purchased McAfee and I feel that it was a waste of good money. It never
| found any problems that other programs found, not even negligible risks that
| AdAware finds. It was also incompatible with the other programs that I have
| running so I removed it. I won't know if I'm specifically infected with a
| targeted infector that Stinger looks for unless I run Stinger. The same can
| be said of all the programs.
|
| So far I've been able to download and install a-squared. I want to also
| download and run TrojanScan at this url:
|
| http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
|
| I now use Sygate firewall. I used to use Avast with Windows firewall but I
| couldn't use Sygate with Avast. So again it was a toss-up and I chose Sygate.
|
| Right now, I'm using the process of elimination. I doubt very much if I
| have a virus/trojan/worm in my pc but I want to know for sure so that I'll
| know that it isn't one of them in my pc causing my pc to creep along when the
| 6/15/06 updates from Microsoft have been installed. Once I've determined
| that, I'll know for sure that one or more of the updates aren't compatible
| with another program in my pc and I will do selective updating to determine
| which of the 10 updates it is. I backed up my entire C drive onto an
| external hard drive and I turned off System Restore until I've run all of the
| programs because the programs can't scan those files and they may contain a
| virus/trojan/worm that I'd put right back into my pc if I chose an existing
| restore point.
|
| It seems that my way of thinking isn't your way of thinking but what I do
| works for me. I've never had a virus/trojan/worm in my pc. Spybot and
| AdAware have found cookies that they've considered spyware and they've been
| eliminated. Up until yesterday, when the new updates were installed in my
| pc, I didn't have the problem with my pc creeping along. Someone else who
| spoke in this thread also mentioned that they caused him a problem. I would
| then assume that the update(s) contain something that isn't compatible with
| our systems.
|
| Denise

McAfee focuses on viruses and Trojans and some non-viral malware while Ad-aware SE focuses
on non-viral malware.

Two differnt products geared twords two different sub-types of malware.

=====================================

I also ran Bit Defender, TrendMicro, CWShredder, Microsoft Malicious
Software Removal Tool, Norton AntiVirus, DosClean and a-squared. Most of the
programs that I used were also located on the url you posted here and then
some.

Denise

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

<kibbitz>

Hi Denise,

It sure looks like you have run a lot of anti-malware tools already.
Some suggested housekeeping:

Set Win Explorer to show all files and folders:

Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

+ +
Consider getting and running CCleaner (freeware) from http://www.ccleaner.com/

Download it, save it, set it up and run it.

When started, select the Windows tab:

Select these options:

Under Internet Explorer: select Temporary Internet Files, Delete Index.dat files

Under System: select Empty Recycle Bin, temporary Files, memory dumps, Chkdsk file fragments

+ +
Do a Disk Defrag on this system, but first close & exit all programs. And at end of defrag, restart the system.

++
See "Computer Health"
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm

Use MSCONFIG to review your startup apps.

I suggest that you to download and run Silent Runners, which will help to determine which programs are auto-loaded at each Windows startup
<http://www.silentrunners.org>

The page has an FAQ link. If you need more guidance see "Using the script"
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_scriptuse.html

Be aware Silent Runners is a script. You may need to tweak your antivirus or security program to allow it to run.

Here are 2 tools from SysInternals that may help you get an insight on what's running.
Autoruns (checks & shows what's set to auto-load at Windows startup)
http://www.sysinternals.com/nt­w2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml

Process Explorer http://www.sysinternals.com/nt­w2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

 

[Guest]

<kibbitz>

Hi Denise,

---> Hi Maurice. Thanks for your response. Since I last posted on this
thread, I just finished a complete search of my pc for
viruses/trojans/worms/adware/malware/grayware, etc, using RegSeeker, PC
onPoint, TrendSysClean, Bit Defender, Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee Stinger,
CWShredder, a-squared, Microsoft AntiSpyware and DOSclean. I ran the
programs both in regular mode and safe mode. It took about 15 hrs to run
all the programs and they came up with some problems. DOSclean determined
that "NBC WeatherBug" is spyware, and that ErrorKiller and Spyware
Interrogator have files that it considered potentially harmful to my pc, and
removed them. Other than that, no other program found anything except
negligible risks.


It sure looks like you have run a lot of anti-malware tools already.
Some suggested housekeeping:

Set Win Explorer to show all files and folders:

---> I did this before I ran all of the programs.



Bring up Windows Explorer / Tools / Folder Options/ select VIEW Tab and look
at all of settings listed.

"CHECK" (turn on) Display the contents of system folders.

Under column, Hidden files and folders----choose ( *select* ) Show hidden
files and folders.
Next, un-check Hide extensions for known file types.
Next un-check Hide protected operating system files.

---> I unchecked these also before I ran the programs.



Consider getting and running CCleaner (freeware) from
http://www.ccleaner.com/

---> I downloaded and ran CCleaner. All boxes in CC were checked, default
mode. Since I also run PC onPoint and RegSeeker at least once a day, CC
found only about 8 items.

Download it, save it, set it up and run it.

When started, select the Windows tab:

Select these options:

Under Internet Explorer: select Temporary Internet Files, Delete Index.dat
files

Under System: select Empty Recycle Bin, temporary Files, memory dumps,
Chkdsk file fragments


Do a Disk Defrag on this system, but first close & exit all programs. And
at end of defrag, restart the system.

---> I defragged several times using Windows defragger, DirMS-S and
PerfectDisk. PerfectDisk defrags much better than Windows defragger.
DirMS-S is very slow but works well.


See "Computer Health"
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm

---> I do these checks on a regular basis, once or twice a month.


Use MSCONFIG to review your startup apps.

---> I have unchecked all unnecessary programs on the Start-Up tab a few
years ago and I uncheck new programs that I've installed that I don't want to
start at Start-Up.


I suggest that you to download and run Silent Runners, which will help to
determine which programs are auto-loaded at each Windows startup
<http://www.silentrunners.org>

---> I have yet to do this. I'll let you know if it help.


The page has an FAQ link. If you need more guidance see "Using the script"
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_scriptuse.html

Be aware Silent Runners is a script. You may need to tweak your antivirus or
security program to allow it to run.


Here are 2 tools from SysInternals that may help you get an insight on
what's running.
Autoruns (checks & shows what's set to auto-load at Windows startup)
http://www.sysinternals.com/nt­w2k/freeware/autoruns.shtml

Process Explorer http://www.sysinternals.com/nt­w2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

---> I'll check these out also. However, I need a break. After doing
nothing but running all these programs and looking around the net for
programs and help, I need a day off, lol. Thank you for all your suggestions
and help. They're very much appreciated.

Maurice N
MS-MVP Windows (Shell / User), Aumha.net VSOP , DTS-L

---> Denise

==================================