Sorry for the late reply, was getting hammered at work.
You'll need to carry out a few preventative steps to make sure you reduce the risk of further infections if you keep you current user. Fresh installs are always a last resort.
Reseting Restore points
The following will clear all you're restore points incase there are any infected files there and reset it so your computer can start creating new clean restore points:
Turn OFF System Restore
- Go to Start Menu, right-click My Computer
- (Computer for Vista/Window 7)
- Select Properties
- Select the System Restore tab
- (Select System Protection tab for Vista/Window 7)
- Check Turn off System Restore
- (Select Configure then Turn off System Protection for Vista/Windows 7)
- Click OK
Restart your computer.
Turn ON System Restore
- Go to Start Menu, right-click My Computer
- (Computer tab for Vista/Window 7)
- Select Properties
- Click the System Restore tab
- (System Protection tab for Vista/Window 7)
- Uncheck Turn off System Restore
- (Configure then Restore system settings and previous versions of files for Vista/Windows 7)
- Click OK
System Restore will now be active again.
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Reset Hidden/System Files & Folders
Next, lets reset your hidden/system files and folders. System files are hidden for a reason and we don't want to have them openly available and susceptible to accidental deletion.
- Go to Start Menu
- Select My Computer
- (Computer for Vista/Windows 7)
- Select the Tools menu and Select Folder Options
- (Select Organize and Select Folder and search options for Vista/Windows 7)
- Select the View tab
- Under the Hidden files and folders heading select Don't show hidden files and folders
- Check the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) option.
- Click OK
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Keeping Windows and your installed applications up-to-date
Your windows is not up-to-date please turn on automatic updates:
- Go to Start Menu.
- Select Control Panel
- (Select System and Security for Vista/Windows 7)
- Select Automatic Updates
- (Select Turn automatic updating on or off for Vista/Windows 7)
- Click/Select Automatic (recommended)
- Choose a day and a time when you know the computer will be on and connected to the internet.
- Click OK
Ok the Java on your system is out of date please get an updated
Java Version. It will scan your computer and tell you you're out of date and provide a download link. Alternatively download here:
Java. Your adobe reader is out of date, the newer version is found here:
Adobe Reader. Below I have recommended an alternative. Also make sure you have up to date
Adobe Flash.
Keep yourself up to date. Updated programs and windows protect you computer from vuneralibilites.
- Senucia PSI is a free security tool designed with the sole purpose of helping you secure your computer against vulnerabilities in programs. Only for security vulnerabilities database doesn't encompass everything.
- SUMo which stands for Software Update Monitor. With it you'll be able to keep your PC up-to-date by using the most recent version of your favourite software. The list of software is not exhaustive as above but better than most. Important Warning if you wish to download click on this
download link on thier site.
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Clearing out the junk
It's a good idea to clear out all your temp files every now and again. This helps your computer from slowing down. It also can assist in getting rid of files that may contain malicious code that could re-infect your computer.
- CCleaner Very good cleaner and the registry scanner is worth a shot as its one of the safer ones.
- BleachBit quickly frees disk space, removes hidden junk, and easily guards your privacy. Erase cache, delete cookies, clear Internet history, remove unused localizations, shred logs, and delete temporary files. Designed for Linux and Windows systems, it wipes clean 70+ applications
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Start-up items
Manage your startup items and catch some spyware when they try to install with one of these programs; both allow you to view the list of programs that run automatically whenever you start your computer. You can edit an entry, add a new entry, and disable items. They also allow you to delay the startup of selected items, which can help reduce bottlenecks caused by too many applications starting at the same time:
General advice for the use of these is to only have your security software running when the computer starts, delay everything else. Deciding what can and can't be removed can be difficult and trial and error. This is done by disabling it (not removing it) and seeing if you notice anything that isn't working as it should. Google is your friend for researching your startup items. Eventually you'll realise what you don't need running and can remove it.
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Miscelleanous
- QtWeb a lightweight, secure and portable browser having unique user interface and privacy features.
- Pidgin an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.Supported chat networks:,AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ,IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo!, and Zephyr.
- PDFX Viewer free PDF viewer thats a lot faster than Adobes.
- MVPS Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local (your) machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.
- Some worthwhile Firefox privacy/security add-ons:
- KeePass a free, open source, light-weight and easy-to-use password manager.
- Toucan a small utility allowing you to synchronise, backup and secure your data with more options than the built in suite utilities.
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Remember to keep your security up-to-date and scan everything you download from the internet, don't trust anything. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get. Anything that pops up from a browser saying you're infected is worth being suspicious about.
All the best.
daozen
