Solved Fighting with Web search redirect, Internet latency

[ducker]

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I can restore these for you as follows:

OH no... I don't want to put back the DivX stuff. I think that was some of the odd stuff.

I just downloaded fresh ATI drivers for my video card and it was fine.

So at this point we look completely clean?
my understanding is that even if I do look clean, I should potentially wipe the hard drive if I plan on using this PC for banking/finance applications in the future correct? In addition it appears that there's something screwy in my registry with all those applications not showing up properly, as well as odd behaviors such as my Firefox not staying as my default browser and constantly reverting back to IE 8.


Also, I use Antivir currently. Is there any way to make it scan all potentially downloaded content? Right now it isn't, and I couldn't find a way to force it to scan downloads.

Perhaps I should look for a different AV solution?

Thanks so much for your time and effort Bobbye.

-Mike

 

[Bobbye]

My plan of attack was to make sure this drive is totally clean, and then I was going to put this drive as a slave, get a new master drive, do a fresh install of windows XP, and transfer over my media from the currently infected drive, and them format that drive.

So at this point we look completely clean?

So far, I have had you remove all bad entries and I have advised you about the dangers of file sharing and recommended you uninstall BitTorrent

my understanding is that even if I do look clean, I should potentially wipe the hard drive if I plan on using this PC for banking/finance applications in the future correct?

If this was always followed, I wouldn't waste my time cleaning a system. However, reformat/reinstall is always up to the user.

In addition it appears that there's something screwy in my registry with all those applications not showing up properly, as well as odd behaviors such as my Firefox not staying as my default browser and constantly reverting back to IE 8

I am concerned about the incorrect display of the installed programs and processes. As far as I know, that is not from malware influence- so because of that, reformatting/reinstalling the system correctly might be the best option.. but we both wasted a lot of time!

As for default browsers: you make Firefox the default, checking the box for it to check to see if it's the default. But you have to uncheck the corresponding box for IE because if it's also checked, it will 'push' Firefox over and assume the default position- a simple matter to do in Internet Options.

Also, I use Antivir currently. Is there any way to make it scan all potentially downloaded content? Right now it isn't, and I couldn't find a way to force it to scan downloads.

When you download anything make sure it is from a trusted site. SAVE the download to you desktop- do not run it from the site. Then you can do a right click> scan with the AV on the setup file on the desktop before doing the left double click to run/install the program.

Perhaps I should look for a different AV solution?

Doesn't matter- you can follow the same instructions for save and scan with any AV.

If you are going to wipe the drive, you no longer need my support- is that correct?

 

[ducker]

So far, I have had you remove all bad entries and I have advised you about the dangers of file sharing and recommended you uninstall BitTorrent

If this was always followed, I wouldn't waste my time cleaning a system. However, reformat/reinstall is always up to the user.

So true... I plan on it, but the question is when...


so any idea why all my programs disappeared like that? I know I removed a bunch of what I believed were temporary directories/files in c:windows.

I wouldnt' think this would cause the problem I saw with applications not showing up as installed, but I have no idea.

I do believe we're all set though. Thank you very much for all your help Bobbye. Should I delete/remove all of the software you have had me install thus far?
Is there anything I need to now disable(turned on)/enabled(turned off) during the trouble shooting that I need to go back and modify?

Thanks!

-Mike

 

[Bobbye]

You're welcome Mike. You can clean up now:

Removing all of the tools we used and the files and folders they created

• Uninstall ComboFix and all Backups of the files it deleted
• Click START> then RUN
• Now type Combofix /Uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the U, it needs to be there.
  
  

• Download OTCleanIt by OldTimer and save it to your Desktop.
• Double click OTCleanIt.exe.
• Click the CleanUp! button.
• If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, select Yes.
• The tool will delete itself once it finishes.

Note: If you receive a warning from your firewall or other security programs regarding OTC attempting to contact the internet, please allow it to do so.

• You should now set a new Restore Point and remove the old restore points to prevent infection from any previous Restore Points.
• Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools
• Click "System Restore".
• Choose "Create a Restore Point" on the first screen then click "Next".
• Give the Restore Point a name> click "Create".
  
• Go back and follow the path to > System Tools.
  [*]Choose Disc Cleanup
  [*]Click "OK" to select the partition or drive you want.
  [*]Click the "More Options" Tab.
  [*]Click "Clean Up" in the System Restore section to remove all previous Restore Points except the newly created one.

Empty the Recycle Bin

Make sure the security you disabled for Combofix is now running.

Let me know if I can be of more help.