Re: Attack From Registry Cleaner

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Thanks, Wesley...

I have deleted all the temp files in both the Internet Explorer window and
running %temp% to find all the current files. They are deleted but the
Norton AntiVirus Alert window will not close. Everytime I click on OK, it
moves to a new file that "cannot be deleted - access denied"...etc. Do I
just keep clicking until it is stops???? Very frustrating.

Thanks,Sarah

"Wesley Vogel" wrote:

> Delete everything in the Temp directories.
>
> Start | Run | Paste this in the box and click OK...
>
> %windir%\temp
>
> Delete everything that you can in the right hand pane.
>
> Start | Run | Type this in the box and click OK...
>
> %tmp%
> Delete everything that you can in the right hand pane.
>
> Clean out your Temporary Internet Files folder.
>
> To delete *all* Temporary Internet Files...
>
> 1) Start | Run | Type: inetcpl.cpl | Click OK
> Or right click the Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop
> Or Start | Settings | Control Panel | Internet Options
> Best to do this with all instances of Internet Explorer closed. Especially
> if there are a large number of files.
> 2) On the General Tab, in the middle of the screen, click on Delete Files
> 3) Check the box  Delete all offline content {This cleans >>
> %homepath%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
> AND
> %homepath%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
> and \Content.MSO (Created by an MS Office program)}
> 4) Click on OK and wait for the hourglass icon to stop after it deletes the
> temporary internet files
> 5) You can now click on Delete Cookies and click OK to delete cookies that
> websites have placed on your hard drive.
>
> --
> Hope this helps. Let us know.
>
> Wes
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
>
> In news:93E70CAA-ABA0-43CC-BC97-12DFD8E274A7@xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
> Sarah <Sarah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
> > Hello, I read most of your information - my problem is this... I cannot
> > close or get rid of the Norton Utilities "Alert" window that says my
> > computer has a virus. It shows the files affected and that the file is
> > deleted... etc. Everytime I click on the OK to close the window, it
> > moves to another file (all in the Temp directory). How do I get rid of
> > the alert window???? Thanks
> >
> > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
> >
> >> flamestar wrote:
> >>> I am under constant attack from Registry Cleaner ads. I keep getting
> >>> pop ups with ads for it and like programs. I ran Norton, Adawar,
> >>> Spybot, and the TDS professional. Noting seems to be able to stop
> >>> this virus. The last it attacked I had to rebuild my computer. What
> >>> is strange is they seem to be allowed to infect people computers and
> >>> then shake them down. If people are giving money to them why aren't
> >>> they arrested as they are attacking computers with viruses and
> >>> blackmail people into paying them off?
> >>
> >> I don't think you have proerly cleaned nor immunized your system against
> >> these types of attacks. Look at tip (10) and then go through the rest to
> >> really harden that system like any system should be.. See if that helps.
> >>
> >> Microsoft has these suggestions for Protecting your computer from the
> >> various things that could happen to you/it:
> >>
> >> Protect your PC
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
> >>
> >>
> >> Although those tips are fantastic, there are many things you should
> >> know above and beyond what is there. Below I have detailed
> >> out many steps that can not only help you clean-up a problem PC but
> >> keep it clean ,secure and running at its top performance mark.
> >>
> >> I know this text can seem intimidating - it is quite long and a lot
> >> to take in for a novice - but I assure you that one trip through this
> >> list and you will understand your computer and the options available
> >> to you for protecting your data much better - and that the next time
> >> you review these steps, the time it takes will be greatly reduced.
> >>
> >> Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step. Yes, it will take
> >> up some of your time - but consider what you use your computer
> >> for and how much you would dislike it if all of your stuff on your
> >> computer went away because you did not "feel like" performing some
> >> simple maintenance tasks - think of it like taking out your garbage,
> >> collecting and sorting your postal mail, paying your bills on time,
> >> etc.
> >>
> >> I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this
> >> document is about; however, here is a place for you poor souls still
> >> stuck in Windows 98/ME where you can get information on maintaining
> >> your system:
> >>
> >> Windows 98 and 'Maintaining Your Computer':
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windows98/usingwindows/maintaining/
> >>
> >> Windows ME Computer Health:
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/
> >>
> >> Pay close attention to the sections:
> >> (in order)
> >> - Clean up your hard disk
> >> - Check for errors by running ScanDisk
> >> - Defragment your hard disk
> >> - Roll back the clock with System Restore
> >>
> >>
> >> Also - now is a good time to point you to one of the easiest ways to find
> >> information on problems you may be having and solutions others have
> >> found:
> >>
> >> Search using Google!
> >> http://www.google.com/
> >> (How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )
> >>
> >>
> >> Now, let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be
> >> done once (mostly):
> >>
> >> Tip (1):
> >> Locate all of the software you have installed on your computer.
> >> (the installation media - CDs, downloaded files, etc)
> >> Collect these CDs and files together in a central and safe
> >> place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these
> >> installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD/DVD Burner
> >> and application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you
> >> have a CD/DVD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a
> >> duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder:
> >>
> >> ISORecorder page (with general instructions on use):
> >> http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/beta.htm
> >>
> >> Yes - it is BETA software - but very useful and well tested.
> >>
> >> More full function applications (free) for CD/DVD burning would be:
> >>
> >> DeepBurner Free
> >> http://www.deepburner.com/
> >>
> >> CDBurnerXP Pro
> >> http://www.cdburnerxp.se/
> >>
> >> Another Option would be to search the web with Pricewatch.com or
> >> Dealsites.net and find deals on Products like Ahead Nero and/or Roxio.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tip (2):
> >> Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
> >> size between 128MB and 512MB..
> >>
> >> - Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
> >> - Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
> >> - Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
> >> following:
> >> - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
> >> - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
> >> something between 128MB and 512MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
> >> now.)
> >> - Click OK.
> >> - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
> >> (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
> >> minutes or more.)
> >> - Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
> >> Explorer.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tip (3):
> >> If things are running a bit sluggish and/or you have an older system
> >> (1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into
> >> tweaking the performance by turning off some of the 'resource hogging'
> >> Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is:
> >>
> >> Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section,
> >> Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you
> >> now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off most of the annoying
> >> "prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last
> >> three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the
> >> other annoyances. You could also grab and install/use one
> >> (or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular:
> >>
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
> >>
> >>
> >> Tip (4):
> >> Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
> >> personal and system security. You may think you do not need to password
> >> your home computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where
> >> no one else has access to it. Remember, however, you aren't always
> >> "in that locked area" when using your computer online - meaning you
> >> likely have usernames and passwords associated with web sites and the
> >> likes that you would prefer other people do not discover/use. This is
> >> why you should understand and utilize good passwords.
> >>
> >> Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
> >> (mileage may vary):
> >>
> >> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
> >> string should contain at least three of these four character types:
> >> - uppercase letters
> >> - lowercase letters
> >> - numerals
> >> - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !, :)
> >>
> >> Passwords should not contain your name/username.
> >> Passwords should be unique to you and easy to remember.
> >>
> >> One method many people are using today is to make up a phrase that
> >> describes a point in their life and then turning that phrase into their
> >> password by using only certain letters out of each word in that phrase.
> >> It's much better than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary
> >> in a pure sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
> >> 'Moved to new home in 2004'
> >> I could come up with this password from that:
> >> 'Mv2n3whmN04'
> >>
> >> The password tip is in the one time section, but I highly
> >> recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
> >> varies, but I will throw out a 'once in every 3 to 6 months for
> >> every account you have.'
> >>
> >>
> >> Tip (5):
> >> This tip is also 'questionable' in the one time section; however -
> >> if properly setup - this one can be pretty well ignored for most people
> >> after the initial 'fiddle-with' time.
> >>
> >> Why you should use a computer firewall..
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx
> >>
> >> You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice
> >> Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of
> >> these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people
> >> don't do anything that they will need to configure their NAT device
> >> for and those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment
> >> to make things work for them. Next in the line of simplicity would
> >> have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it
> >> is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any
> >> case, however:
> >>
> >> Enable/Disable the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673
> >>
> >> More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320855
> >>
> >> Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance:
> >> http://snipurl.com/atal
> >>
> >> The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things
> >> out. For most people who maintain their system in other ways, this is
> >> MORE than sufficient. However, you may feel otherwise. If you want to
> >> know when one of your applications is trying to obtain access to the
> >> outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to install a
> >> third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have compiled a
> >> list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls you can choose
> >> from:
> >>
> >> BlackICE PC Protection (~$39.95 and up)
> >> http://blackice.iss.net/
> >>
> >> Jetico Personal Firewall (Free)
> >> http://www.jetico.com/index.htm#/jpfirewall.htm
> >>
> >> Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
> >> http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html
> >>
> >> Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
> >> http://www.agnitum.com/download/
> >>
> >> Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up)
> >> http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm
> >>
> >> Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up)
> >> http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
> >>
> >> ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
> >> http://snipurl.com/6ohg
> >>
> >> You should find the right firewall for your situation in that
> >> list and set it up.
> >>
> >> Every firewall WILL require some maintenance. Essentially checking for
> >> patches or upgrades (this goes for hardware and software solutions) is
> >> the extent of this maintenance - you may also have to configure your
> >> firewall to allow some traffic depending on your needs.
> >>
> >> ** Don't stack the software firewalls! Running more than one software
> >> firewall will not make you safer - it would possibly negate some
> >> protection you gleamed from one or the other firewall you run.
> >>
> >>
> >> Now that you have some of the more basic things down..
> >> Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to
> >> maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not
> >> done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious - however,
> >> they will become routine and some can even be automatically scheduled.
> >>
> >>
.

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