ActiveX error and virus infection

leemodeler_at_yahoo.com
Date: 02/13/05 

Date: 12 Feb 2005 19:20:36 -0800

Last night my son downloaded from a chat program what turned out to be
an infected file. My son says the file was named "pictures.pif" . Since
then I've had problems with Internet Explorer ActiveX security
settings. I get the following Internet Explorer dialog box message:
"your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on
this page..."

Here's when it happens: 1. when my Windows desktop is loading, I get
the message. Once I click OK in the message box, Desktop appears to
finish loading correctly. 2.When I'm working in Windows Explorer, and
click on a folder in the left pane, the right pane remains blank and
the message box pops up, 3. When I open Control Panel, the message pops
up and I'm unable to open any selections such as Add/Remove Programs,
4.When I try to run Norton Antivirus, nothing happens. Other aspects of
Norton Systemworks are not affected. There may be other Windows
operations affected as well; these are the ones I've come across
thusfar.

Here's what I've tried to correct the problem. 1.I downloaded
Spyware Doctor (S.D.) and on the first run it found lots of problems,
one of which was that my browser had been hijacked and security
settings had been manipulated. The location of the infection was noted
as "multiple". I allowed S.D. to clean this up, but the problem
persists. 2.I manually checked security settings in IE6. IE6 security
is set as "medium" and settings look fine. 3.Since I couldn't
operate Norton Antivirus, I ran an online scan from TrendMicro.com It
found nothing. 4.I ran Spybot and Adware with the latest definitions.
They each found some problems and cleaned them up.

None of the solutions has resolved the problem. Interestingly, the
problem hasn't prevented me from downloading and installing the
latest Windows critical update, which I did earlier today. Obviously
something is very wrong. Can you help?

Relevant Pages

  • ActiveX problem and virus infection
    ... "your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on ... when my Windows desktop is loading, ... problem hasn't prevented me from downloading and installing the ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • ADODB.stream
    ... MICROSOFT RELEASES SECURITY UPDATE ... but it changes settings in Windows ... direct Internet Explorer browsers to automatically run the ... The software update covers Windows XP, ...
    (microsoft.public.security)
  • Re: online scan for updates not working- too secure for ActiveX
    ... If you have any ad-blocker program, disable or exit it before going to Windows Update. ... Recheck your Security & Privacy settings AND the ADVANCED settings in I.E. ... In Internet Explorer> Tools, click Internet Options, and then click Languages.... ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Found HWS.EXE & INSTALL.DAT Pls Advise
    ... Reg fixes plus learning of a way of to get into the Registry when all the ... MUI file in it's bliue border, prior to booting into Windows. ... works through the hang then my Personal Settings loaded. ... tight security settings on both your Anti-Virus and your Browser security ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Windows Update Error on XP 64bit: update is redirected from v6
    ... Proxycfg settings WORKED. ... Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating System Group Policy Result tool ... The user is a member of the following security groups: ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)