greg said:
after having used my computer as any computer is likely to be used,
(installed kazaa, downloaded all sorts of files ect...) i see that
my
six month dell pc equiped with windows xp is running incredibly
slowly compared to the first day i ve bought. Hardly is there
anything on it, so i think there must be somekind of infected files
everywhere (by the way what is this list of fifty item in the add
and
remove program called windows hotfix, there are so many of them and
more and more everyday!!!)
well i would like to know if removing windows xp is the solution to
totally clean up my pc, (i don t care about loosng what s in
it)????will it removre everything and will i find my new
computerback
after having reinstalled it with the installation CD?
Also, how do I uninstall windows xp if that s the solution if it s
not in my add and removre program list?
thank you for all your help i need it so much thank you...
Formatting the hard drive to solve a virus or spyware problem is
rather like using an axe to trim one's fingernails. Sure, it'll
probably get the job done, but it's rather messy...., and almost
always unnecessary.
First of all, you'll need to remove Kazaa, as it has now served
its primary purpose of spreading the malware. (If you're going to
persist in using Kazaa, you might as well just learn to put up with
its accompanying problems.)
Then, to clean up the machine, you'll first need to install and
use a good antivirus application. You'll also need a good firewall to
help keep the machine clean. The free versions of GriSoft's AVG
(
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php ) and Sygate's Personal
Firewall (
http://smb.sygate.com/free/default.php ) come highly
recommended. Both have proven to be easily installed, easy to use,
and quite effective.
You will also need to clean up the adware and spyware that Kazaa
installed. To deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, Xupiter,
Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately
(but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products
that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of
scumware) are Ad-Aware from
www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search &
Destroy from
www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions.
It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system against most future intrusions. I use both and generally
perform manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.
Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:
PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml
More information and assistance is available at these sites:
Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
The Parasite Fight
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.
The weak link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer user.
No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected to --
protect the computer user from him/herself.
To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500
Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/
Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having
both at once. - RAH
