Re: My winsock.dll and wsock32.dll are corrupted

Tech-Archive recommends: Speed Up your PC by fixing your registry

From: Chuck (none_at_example.net)
Date: 09/06/04


Date: 6 Sep 2004 13:28:13 -0500

On Mon, 6 Sep 2004 11:12:40 -0700, "Anyone"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hello i am a fellow Windows XP Home Edition user and my
>winsock.dll and wsi\ock32.dll files are always getting
>corrupted. what do i do to stop this and where can i
>download them again.
>
> please help me by emailing me at *email_address_deleted* or
>at *email_address_deleted*

Asked here, answered here. For everybody's benefit.

<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=811259>

Give LSP-Fix and WinsockLSPFix a shot <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm> for
fixing the corruption.

For resolving the problem causing the corruption, you need to do a thorough
spyware detection / removal.

Start by downloading each of the following additional free tools:
AdAware <http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
CWShredder <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch (v1/v2) MiniRemoval
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4113.html>
HijackThis <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
Spybot S&D <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
Stinger <http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>

Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
downloaded file there. AdAware and Spybot S&D have install routines - run them.
The other downloaded programs can be copied into, and run from, any convenient
folder.

First, run Stinger. Have it remove any problems found.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and run
CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearchMiniRemoval, then CWShredder. Have the latter fix all
problems found.

Next, run AdAware. First update it ("Check for updates now"), configure for
full scan (<http://www.lavahelp.com/howto/fullscan/>), then scan. When scanning
finishes, select all problems found for removal, and hit Next again.

Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a scan
("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and delete everything ("Fix Problems")
that is displayed in Red.

Then, run HijackThis ("Scan"). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>

Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
following security forums (and post it, or a link to your forum posts, here):
Aumha: <http://forum.aumha.org/index.php>
Net-Integration: <http://forums.net-integration.net/>
Spyware Info: <http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
Spyware Warrior: <http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
Tom Coyote: <http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx as necessary.

Finally, improve your chances for the future.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Block Internet Explorer ActiveX scripting from hostile websites (Restricted
Zone).
<https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/main.htm> (IE-SpyAd)

Block known dangerous scripts from installing.
<http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html>

Block known spyware from installing.
<http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html>

Make sure that the spyware detection / protection products that you use are
reliable:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Maintain your Hosts file (merge / eliminate duplicate entries) with:
eDexter <http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <http://accs-net.com/hostess/>

Secure your operating system, and applications. Don't use, or leave activated,
any accounts with names or passwords with trivial (guessable) values. Don't use
an account with administrative authority, except when you're intentionally doing
administrative tasks.

Use common sense. Yours. Don't install software based upon advice from unknown
sources. Don't install free software, without researching it carefully. Don't
open email unless you know who it's from, and how and why it was sent.

Educate yourself. Know what the risks are. Stay informed. Read Usenet, and
various web pages that discuss security problems. Check the logs from the other
layers regularly, look for things that don't belong, and take action when
necessary.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: i cant update windows!
    ... > download, but at the very end of the process it says that the ... I havent been able to get any updates ... First - cleanup your machine and ready it for Service Pack 2. ... Then install Service Pack 2 from the downloaded install file (not the ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Do i need SP2?
    ... > I am running XP pro with all updates EXCEPT SP2. ... many patches will begin requiring SP2 to install.. ... and some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • RE: IEXPLORE.EXE Really sorry - need help with an old problem
    ... the download links provided below. ... Install Spybot and the DSO Exploit Fix. ... and then the Immunize button to block common Spyware programs from installing. ... HijackThis log. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: SUS
    ... > I have setup a SUS Server on win2k. ... 0-2.reg will not configure your machine to automatically download updates from ... critical updates or service packs that your machine needs. ... It will also ask you if you want to install them, ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.general)
  • Re: Web Page Colors
    ... Now that you've done the repair, you must access windows updates and install ... Make sure you disable any AV when installing Updates. ... Parasites, spyware malware basics: ... Virus Cleaner - free virus & worm removal tool ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)