FWIW,
I've been using the Internet since '94, and in all that time, never had a
virus, trojan, etc., at worst, some spyware, which became a new phenomenon
much later on. And I don't take any extreme measures either, just some
common sense, like using a hardware router, keeping the firewall active,
updated, and verified w/ ShieldsUp (you should report 100% stealth), running
Norton Anti-Virus and using it's realtime file protection, Norton Internet
Security (local firewall), not installing ActiveX controls except from
trusted authorities, using Ad-aware and SpyCop, etc. And most important of
all, NOT using Outlook Express! (perhaps the biggest boom to virus writers
ever created). Instead, I use web-based email, since it is far less
virus-prone (and frankly, more convenient since I can access it from
anywhere in the world).
All that said, there comes a point when it might be easier to start over!
Even if you successfully remove all the problems, have you, really? That's
part of the problem, you don't know what you don't know. And you don't know
how far the infections have spread. It could very well have infected your
floppies!, CD burned media, USB pen drives, other HDs, *anything* is
suspect, particularly if the infections are still out of control. Better to
start a CLEAN, NEW XP install and NOT repeat the mistakes. Next time, don't
even allow XP to install while connected to the Internet. Instead,
disconnect the network cable. Once XP installs, IMMEDIATELY install a HIGH
QUALITY virus detection program, like Norton Anti-Virus. I'd also recommend
a local firewall, like Norton Internet Security, as a "second" layer of
protection, in addition to your hardware router's firewall. And you *are*
using a hardware firewall, right?!!! Do not depend on junk like ICS to
protect you, it's a silly, little program w/ very limited features, a simple
802.11b wireless router will only cost you $20-30, tops, after rebate. You
might also consider an SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) capable hardware
router, some models provide this *additional* feature.
Clean ALL your HDs *completely* w/ DBAN (or similar),
http://dban.sourceforge.net/, only then install your OS.
Once you have a hardware router, and XP installed w/ NAV and NIS, then and
ONLY then connect to the Internet. Now install your Windows updates. I'd
also install Ad-aware to keep the other junk out as well (there may be
trojans and other nasties there too, although less likely).
I'd be leery of any floppies, and since the media is so cheap, as far as I'm
concerned, unless it contains VITAL data, its all expendable. Dump it, you
only risk rei-ntroducing infections.
If you just follow some basic rules, you should be OK. Again, stay away
from ActiveX controls unless you know the party, stay away from Outlook
Express if you can avoid it, keep your virus defs updated, run a total
system scan AT LEAST once a week, if truly paranoid, maybe every night using
the scheduler (I run it twice a week, Tues. and Sat.). I also update my
virus defs nightly. New viruses and trojans can be introduced within hours,
and so you are always vulnerable between the time of discovery by Norton or
McAfee, and the next def update. So noone, myself included, is 100%
protected, all the time. But my risk level is very, very low. And a
successful attack requires getting through multiple defenses. That's the
best strategy -- layering. Just make it difficult enough they look
elsewhere for easier targets (like YOU! , just kidding
.
I know this doesn't specifically address "fixing" your current system, for
all intents and purposes, that's nearly impossible in this NG. Just too
complex, too many things that could be wrong, it requires
"hands-on" attention. If you want to persist, you need an expert THERE to
clean it up. Otherwise, I recommend starting over, consider it a lesson
learned.
HTH
Jim
