lynched said:
Everytime I launch internet explorer,my browser is hijacked by
http://hits.clickandtrack.com,I have tried everything!I have been onto
you all for 2/3 weeks now and have used every kind of spyware
imaginable,followed all instructions of cleaning in safe mode
etc.etc.etc. I can not rid myself of this parasite!I have gone into
tools in internet explorer to block the site,to no avail!!I would now
pay for software to clean my system,or if their is something I have
overlooked??let me know,or software esoecially for this sort of
problom happy new year
garvan
You do not need to pay for removal tools, but you have to be persistent,
patient, and know what you're doing. If you have really used every kind
of cleaner imaginable, then you would be smart to take the machine to a
good local computer professional (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
store). That said, here are general malware removal instructions. It is
crucial that you use updated tools and do all scans in Safe Mode.
Additionally, check out the link to Eric Howes' page about rogue
antispyware tools (last of the links below) to make sure that in using
"every kind of...imaginable" you didn't inadvertently make your problem
worse by installing betrayalware.
1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.
2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.
Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).
HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.
3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.
Links to help with malware:
Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners
HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
Malke
