David,
This advice is a little repetitious, but includes extra details on how to
set Adaware, for example, to work most effectively for modern malware. In
short, AdAware doesn't work with a lot of modern malware when using default
settings.
There are many people who have helped this FAQ improve over time - MVPs and
newsgroup users. I thank all of you who have made the newsgroups,
anti-malware websites and dedicated mailing lists into such a wonderful
resource.
IMPORTANT: Before trying to remove spyware, download a copy of LSPFIX from
the URL below - some malware can kill your internet connection when it is
removed, and this software should get things going for you again:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
IMPORTANT: After obtaining the software below, make sure you check for
updates and then run the programmes in safe mode.
You can go to the link below to check your system for parasites (supplied by
Doxdesk.com):
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/parasite.htm
Malware removal (beginners guide):
First, go to Control Panel, add/remove programs. Check for malware entries
and use the uninstall programs.
Second, get AdAware. [..Warning: AdAware is now version 6.181. All previous
versions are NO LONGER SUPPORTED and will not be updated...]
AdAware is available at
www.lavasoft.de. Make sure you check for updates
every time you use it.
To be most effective, you must run AdAware while Windows is in safe mode,
and you must shut down as many suspect processes as possible.
This can be tricky, but nothing is impossible. Modern malware uses more than
one process, and these processes are 'co-dependent'. In other words, when
one processes detects that the other has been shut down, it automatically
restarts its sibling, often using a different name. Using Task Manager
(ctrl, alt, del) doesn't work because you can only shut down one process at
a time.
Disable suspect processes using MSCONFIG before booting into safe mode. Use
the information at the URL below as a guide:
http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
After you are in safe mode, check to make sure the suspect processes did not
start up. Then start AdAware. Make sure 'activate in depth scan' is
enabled. Select 'use custom scanning options' and then click on the
'customize' button. Turn on the following scan options - scan within
archives, active processes, registry (including deep scan), IE favorites and
hosts file. You must also turn on the following option via the 'tweak'
button:
Cleaning engine: 'automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion'
IMPORTANT: Before letting AdAware delete malware, write down on a piece of
paper exactly where the malware is stored. You will need to delete those
directories after AdAware has done its work, but ONLY IF IT IS NOT A
STANDARD WINDOWS DIRECTORY.
After running AdAware, run it again, this time using the option 'select
drives/folders to scan'. Click on 'select'. Scan your entire hard drive.
Also do the following:
Empty your IE cache and your other temporary file folders, eg:
c:\windows\temp (if using Windows 98) or C:\Documents and
Settings\<name>\Local Settings\Temp (the path to your temp folder will
change depending on your name) - sometimes programmes can be hidden in
there - watch out for mysterious *.exe files or *.dll files in those
folders.
Go to IE Tools, Internet Options, Temporary Internet Files {Settings
Button}, View Objects, Downloaded Programme Files. Check for unusual objects
there.
Go to IE Tools, Internet Options, Accessibility. Make sure there is no
style sheet chosen (under User Style Sheet - format documents using my style
sheet). If the option is turned on, turn it OFF.
It is possible to turn off third party extensions (Enable third-party
browser extensions (requires restart) at IE tools, internet options,
advanced) to disable *all* plug-ins but troubleshooting will be difficult
and it is only a BANDAID. Nothing gets fixed. There is software that
depends on 'third party browser extensions" to work, including Acrobat,
Microsoft Money, and many other programmes.
Once your computer is clean, and if it applies to your operating system,
create a new restore point. Your old ones may, of course, be infected with
the malware and therefore cannot be used. Run disk cleanup to remove old
restore points (if you operating system has this option you will find it on
the 'more options' tab of the disk cleanup utility).
If you are still having problems:
You can go to the link below to check your system for parasites and
hopefully identify your problem (supplied by Doxdesk.com):
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/parasite.htm
Download and run the latest version of "Cool Web Shredder"
http://www.merijn.org/files/CWShredder.exe
The more experienced user can try Spybot. Again, it is a free programme
which can be downloaded from:
http://spybot.eon.net.au/. Warning: it is NOT
a good programme for the inexperienced. If you want to use this programme,
please get the advice of those more experienced before 'fixing' anything
that it finds.
Another excellent programme that allows you to examine your system and
*create a results log for experts to examine* is HijackThis, available from:
http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/
An experienced computer technician can use programme such as AutoStart
Viewer for in-depth diagnosis:
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/index.php?page=asviewer
MS have released a limited KB article regarding what they call 'deceptive
software'.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;827315
Here is advice specific to:
home page hijackings
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers.htm#home_page
pop-up ads
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/popup.htm
search engine hijackings
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers4.htm#search_engine
IMPORTANT: Automated removal programmes are excellent, and a lot of credit
goes to those who authored and update the programmes, but they can NOT
detect everything that is out there - as time goes on the programmes will
become more and more unwieldy if they try to maintain a standard of positive
identification for as much spyware as possible, and it will be harder and
harder for the programmes to catch everything that is out there. More and
more spyware uses RANDOM names as part of their programme making it
impossible for positive identification to occur, therefore....
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you learn how to examine your system for potential
problems as well as using 'fixit' programme such as AdAware or Spybot.
Check your startup folder and MSCONFIG (startup tab).
The folders could be:
....\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
User\Startup\
All Users\Startup\
The following registry keys are implicated in malware infection, and can be
edited as appropriate (!! if you have experience !!).
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup\
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Services marked to startup automatically are executed before user login.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\load
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\run\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\run\
The following link will lead you to some Microsoft KB articles about the
basics of the Registry and working with it:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers.htm#Registry
--
Hyperlinks are used to ensure advice remains current
_______________________________________
Sandi - Microsoft MVP since 1999 (IE/OE)
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/