Spyware and the Windows Registry

G

Guest

I've been finding a lot of spyware on my laptop after doing a sweep with
Uniblue Spy Eraser. Much of it is in the registry; some of it is on the C:\
drive. My questions are:

1. Should I lock down the registry so it's only accesible by the
Administrator?

2. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Install Shield?

3. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
Files\InstallShield Installation Information?

4. Is it best to purchase the software to take care of this?

5. Is this part of life-something I can't really prevent as long as I'm
surfing on the web?

Thank you.
 
J

Jim

Erick said:
I've been finding a lot of spyware on my laptop after doing a sweep with
Uniblue Spy Eraser. Much of it is in the registry; some of it is on the
C:\
drive. My questions are:

1. Should I lock down the registry so it's only accesible by the
Administrator?

2. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Install Shield?

3. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
Files\InstallShield Installation Information?

4. Is it best to purchase the software to take care of this?

5. Is this part of life-something I can't really prevent as long as I'm
surfing on the web?

Thank you.
No, the first thing to do is to determine if that program is trustworthy. I
have never heard of it (but that doesn't mean it is untrustworthy).

Don't mess with the registry. You will be sorry if you do.
I can't see any reason to mess with the Install Shield files.
What AV Software do you own.
The answer to #5 is no.
Jim
 
D

David H. Lipman

From: "Erick" <[email protected]>

| I've been finding a lot of spyware on my laptop after doing a sweep with
| Uniblue Spy Eraser. Much of it is in the registry; some of it is on the C:\
| drive. My questions are:
|
| 1. Should I lock down the registry so it's only accesible by the
| Administrator?
|
| 2. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
| Files\Common Files\Install Shield?
|
| 3. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
| Files\InstallShield Installation Information?
|
| 4. Is it best to purchase the software to take care of this?
|
| 5. Is this part of life-something I can't really prevent as long as I'm
| surfing on the web?
|
| Thank you.



If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 6.0,
then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions.
There are numerous vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.

It is highly suggested that you update to the latest version which is Sun Java JRE/JSE
Version 6.0

Simple check, look under...
C:\Program Files\Java

The only folder under that folder should be the latest version.

Such as...
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

FYI:
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102557-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102622-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102648-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102729-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102732-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102760-1



For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/
http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

* SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&evp=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *
 
G

Guest

I downloaded 4 of the programs: LavaSoft, SpyBot, SuperAntispyware and
BHODemon. So far, I've run SpyBot which reported sever adclicks and
SuperAntispyware which reported Adware.

Java is version 2 SE v1.4.2_11 so I this needs to be update.

Still going through the information provided, David. This was a big help.
Thank you.


David H. Lipman said:
From: "Erick" <[email protected]>

| I've been finding a lot of spyware on my laptop after doing a sweep with
| Uniblue Spy Eraser. Much of it is in the registry; some of it is on the C:\
| drive. My questions are:
|
| 1. Should I lock down the registry so it's only accesible by the
| Administrator?
|
| 2. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
| Files\Common Files\Install Shield?
|
| 3. Is there a problem with completely removing everything under C:\Program
| Files\InstallShield Installation Information?
|
| 4. Is it best to purchase the software to take care of this?
|
| 5. Is this part of life-something I can't really prevent as long as I'm
| surfing on the web?
|
| Thank you.



If you are using any version of Sun Java that is prior to JRE Version 6.0,
then you are strongly urged to remove any/all versions.
There are numerous vulnerabilities in them and they are actively being exploited.

It is highly suggested that you update to the latest version which is Sun Java JRE/JSE
Version 6.0

Simple check, look under...
C:\Program Files\Java

The only folder under that folder should be the latest version.

Such as...
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0

http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

FYI:
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102557-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102622-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102648-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102729-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102732-1
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-102760-1



For non-viral malware...

Please download, install and update the following software...

* Ad-aware SE v1.06
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://www.lavasoft.de/ms/index.htm

* SpyBot Search and Destroy v1.4
http://security.kolla.de/
http://www.safer-networking.org/microsoft.en.html

* SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

After the software is updated, I suggest scanning the system in Safe Mode.

I also suggest downloading, installing and updating BHODemon for any Browser Helper Objects
that may be on the PC.

* BHODemon

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=3550&file=11&evp=245a87539eea8ed6904332b4b8b8442d

For viral malware...

* Download MULTI_AV.EXE from the URL --
http://www.ik-cs.com/programs/virtools/Multi_AV.exe

To use this utility, perform the following...
Execute; Multi_AV.exe { Note: You must use the default folder C:\AV-CLS }
Choose; Unzip
Choose; Close

Execute; C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT
{ or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS }

NOTE: You may have to disable your software FireWall or allow WGET.EXE to go through your
FireWall to allow it to download the needed AV vendor related files.

C:\AV-CLS\StartMenu.BAT -- { or Double-click on 'Start Menu' in C:\AV-CLS}
This will bring up the initial menu of choices and should be executed in Normal Mode.
This way all the components can be downloaded from each AV vendor's web site.
The choices are; Sophos, Trend, McAfee, Kaspersky, Exit this menu and Reboot the PC.

You can choose to go to each menu item and just download the needed files or you can
download the files and perform a scan in Normal Mode. Once you have downloaded the files
needed for each scanner you want to use, you should reboot the PC into Safe Mode [F8 key
during boot] and re-run the menu again and choose which scanner you want to run in Safe
Mode. It is suggested to run the scanners in both Safe Mode and Normal Mode.

When the menu is displayed hitting 'H' or 'h' will bring up a more comprehensive PDF help
file. http://www.ik-cs.com/multi-av.htm

Additional Instructions:
http://pcdid.com/Multi_AV.htm


* * * Please report back your results * * *
 
D

David H. Lipman

From: "Erick" <[email protected]>

| I downloaded 4 of the programs: LavaSoft, SpyBot, SuperAntispyware and
| BHODemon. So far, I've run SpyBot which reported sever adclicks and
| SuperAntispyware which reported Adware.
|
| Java is version 2 SE v1.4.2_11 so I this needs to be update.
|
| Still going through the information provided, David. This was a big help.
| Thank you.
|


You're welcome.
 
S

Steven L Umbach

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