wh0cares said:
Hi Group
I am having trouble with the lob malware on windows xp sp2 home. I
have installed spybot/adware/spy-ferret and the new yahoo one and they
all work on my administrator profile however they do not scan the
other profiles properly and the software will not run (it will scan
but can not remove) in the other none administrator profiles. Is it a
problem with the setup of my PC which prevents the spyware working? Or
is the software badly tested or incompatible? (I will try and get my
money back from spy ferret if this is
the case). Any other ideas how I can get rid of lob (ideally with out
having to log on to the effected users account)
Although you've already done some work, do the following malware removal
steps. It is crucial that you do all scans in Safe Mode with updated
tools. After you have done everything, go into Regular Mode by logging
into an account with administrative privileges and run Ad-aware and
Spybot S&D in each user account.
I'm not personally familiar with Spy Ferret, by the Spyware Warrior site
has it listed as rogue anti-spyware (which means it is not a good
choice). Here's the link to the Spyware Warrior page:
http://tinyurl.com/6lgu5
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
