mountaintree16

Thank you Victimized! This is for Victimized and Exile! Last night I went to uninstall Registry Cleaner, but I figured that I should check to see if there were any restore points before doing so, because if I uninstalled it, I would never be able to do these restore points. There were about 6-10 entries. I took a screen shot. I was going to post a screen shot that I took and see if anyone could tell me whether or not I should restore them before uninstalling the program. I have already restored all that was available on the Desktop Maestro program. I would post it now but I am not at my computer. I will never mess with the registry again unless I know what I am doing!

Thank you AdvancedSetup! Was this message to me? Just checking. "Typical canned message for CCleaner. Though with add-ons that Exile can help you with even further it can clean much more." What do you mean by that? I am just a little confused. Should I download and install all of these things and do exactly what it says there? Could you also tell me about how long they take? I'm just asking because I am not at my home computer right now and I won't be able to do anything until tonight. I get home late usually so I only have a few hours at night to work with before going to bed I am also working on doing a HJT log with Miekemoes - should I do that with her first and then do these things after?

Hi Rubber DuckY! I am replying to you because I see that you answered this persons question and it looks similar to one I had a little while ago but we were unable to find a definite answer and I thought that you might be able to help I had an interaction with AVG on a friends computer when I was scanning it with MBAM, a trojan was detected, and this also happened on my home computer, but on my home computer it was only a tracking cookie that was detected. It happened twice on the friends computer and once on mine. http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/index.p...ost&p=81403 That's the link to the post where I have a screen shot of what happened, and in the first post I explain more of what happened.

Thank you Miekiemoes! Before I do the log, I have a few questions for you. After posting the log and being given instructions, is it okay go use the computer to go online inbetween before doing the fixes? I ask because as you know our computer is shared and I just wanted to ask if that would interfere at all. I was talking to my husband this morning about what I am doing, and I think he's find with it. He mainly goes on some discussion forums and buys things online, but nothing major. Another question I have is, is there a period of time within which I need to respond after you have gone over my log? I ask because I have seen after poking around in the HJT forum that there does seem to be a time limit from when someone responds to you to when you need to post back. I am asking because I work at night and I don't have too much time in the morning, so most of my computer time is either after work or in the morning if I have time. Also, I will be away from our computer for a day or two this weekend, and unable to get onto the forum. (graduating from college ) I just wanted to ask and make you aware of that so you didn't think that I was ignoring you or not doing what you said, because that certainly wouldn't be the case.

Thanks for the reply! I read the whole main page and the ads I guess were just sponsored links. When I went to download it, it looked a little scary, for lack of a better word. There is a picture of a snake and there is a warning about downloading it, so I was just a little concerned. I trust you though, so as soon as I can I will download it. Thanks for clarifying what Malwarebytes blocks Another question... may I run a HiJackThis scan and post it for review? I just want to be sure and also see if there is anything malicious hanging around on my computer and if there is anything on it that I shouldn't have that I might not be aware of?

Exile: I uninstalled Norton Security Center, restarted, and then I went to uninstall the Liveupdate Component, and this message popped up, which I have attached to my message as a screen shot. I didn't run the removal tool yet because I wanted to ask you what you think about this message. I didn't uninstall the live update yet either but I figure that that probably would be the best route. Thanks again!

Thanks victimized

Thanks again What are you using for a firewall then if Vista Firewall Control is gone? What do you mean by it doesn't support your modem?

As I have been learning more about programs, computers, and updates, I have a question. I don't think that my Adobe is up to date. I doubt that my Java is either. Even if you don't use these items, do you still risk security holes in the program? Also, is it important to update EVERY program so as not to risk security holes? For example, I have a pretty old version of aol instant messenger that I still use. I like it better than the new one, but now I realize that I might be putting myself at risk by doing that. I know I need to keep these programs up to date, but I am not sure how to do that safely. They don't seem to come up when I start up my computer Attached are two screen shots of what I currently have for Adobe and Java. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Okay thanks! I would definitely disable the internet! I actually keep it disabled whenever he or I are not using the computer. Just another precaution Its a cable thing. It has some plugs and cords in the back. To turn it off I just flip the switch, and that makes the computer tell me that a net work cable is unplugged. I assume that that is sufficient. Okay, good to know! And do you think that they are just as good as or maybe better than Maestro? If I am not too tired when I get home, I'll uninstall Maestro too, otherwise I will do it another day. It asks you to restart after, which I think is weird :/ Thanks again

Exile: Thanks. I'll try asking them at some point. Right now I'll just worry about Norton and working on some of the computer clean up and things that AdvancedSetup gave to me Thanks! Do you know if the starter edition is the most up to date? I know that Spyware Doctor just updated to version 6.0, and I think that I had bought 5.5. K So you don't think it would hurt to download it and try it again? Just a little concerned about downloading, installing, uninstalling so many times. I've done it with Spyware Doctor maybe 2-3 times and the Security Suite maybe 4-5 times. Eck.

Exile: Thanks again So do close out things while running the defrag, just hit exit out on the programs in the taskbar that are running? Cost isn't an issue with security for me. I would prefer to pay to get something good then have a free version that doesnt' have everything that I need. The free Antivirus version sounds excellent though. I've heard good things about Avira and Avast, but Avira sounds like the better of the two. Thanks for the links to Avira Yay! good to hear that StartupLite is easy to use Hmm okay. I don't really need it. I just wanted to clear off computer usage tracks AND internet tracks. Does ATF do both or just internet? I still don't fully understand ATF cleaner but I know its good I've had it longer than you can have it to get a refund, unfortuantely. At least it was only $20. Maybe this will help my system speed up I wonder if there are any Spyware Doctor traces lingering around causing problems. When I had that whole Windows installer incident, or maybe it was when I did a System Restore in an effort to get back firefox book marks I had lost (I unstalled it, didn't save bookmarks) after finding some things in the options or tools tab that I thought looked suspicious (they were in the pop up blocker area or the blocked sites area, I can't remember which) but probably were fine. so anyway, after I did the system restore, this thing popped up about pctstray.exe and I was like what is that! I did some google searching after undoing the restore (firefox wouldn't work at all!) and someone said it was a virus but then I found it was a leftover exe from PC Tools and it was only found in prefetch anyway, which ATF cleaned out. gah, computers

Exile: Thanks! I'll do it as soon as I get home. I hope I am not bothering you tonight. You are just so helpful and I have a lot of questions that you know the answer to!

Exile: Thanks again! Oh, and by the way, I just learned of a new lovely Facebook virus... Koobface or something. UGH! I think you only get it by clicking on a so-called youtube link, but I am not sure. Wow I just don't know so many things yet but hopefully that will change with time

Exile: You're welcome!!! Thanks!! Is StarupLite easy to use and everything? Does Desktop Maestro (and I also have Registry Mechanic running in the background too since it came with Spyware Doctor) run in the background even if you close it down from the taskbar? I hate wasting money but I haven't used the program in at least a month now. So ATF cleaner (and CC, but I haven't tried it yet) thoroughly cleans usage tracks on Firefox and IE? The other thing I liked about Desktop Maestro is that it said it also cleans up files leftover on the computer, such as when you have a Word document and save it, and then delete it later on, its not really completely gone. Desktop Maestro claims to clean those files up too. Maybe I can just install it for when I want to clean up tracks, but I would imagine that installing, uninstalling, and then re-installing programs like that is hard on the computer and probably creates more problems? Congrats on being in the training program!! Thanks for being honest and telling me that and I understand and respect that. I think you are going to do GREAT and be a wonderful graduate when the time comes! Okay, thanks! I was talking with Miekiemoes about it earlier too when I posted a Malwarebytes log.

AdvancedSetup: Do you use Avira then? I've already paid for AVG though. I'd hate to waste it, but thats not a big deal compared to computer safety. Does Avira also offer a full internet security suite? That's what I have from AVG right now. Thank you SO much for all of those links and suggestions and tools. I will do them when I am able to. I skimmed over everything quickly, and the information on the Defrag part completely surprised me. I had no idea that you should shut down other applications while defragging. What does it mean when it says to close out programs so that no programs attempt to write the drive? Is that something malicious or just something in Windows? Thanks again

Exile: thanks! Oh darn! There was no box :/ Oh wait you mean on a box in the computer? not like a package box? I haven't eaten too much today so my mind isn't working too well Eak!! That's scary about the malware makers. So uninstall, reboot, then download the SymNRT and enter the code, do what it says, and I am good to go?

Ugh. Yeah I did get a browser hijack on both sites :/ I want to be able to use them but at the same time I find them a risk! I don't even really use them at home anymore, although that hasn't happened again since the few times that I have used the sites at home. Oh, here is something that I wanted to tell you in another thread, but it kind of applies here too so I'll paste it in. I wrote it to Victimized originally, but I thought that you might be able to help me too

aww lol I agree, he is very helpeful! And you are too! And yes, his research on his information definitely shows in his current posts. I am so glad that I found out about Malwarebytes and then found this forum. The staff here and the users are great!! I am so grateful to you guys!!! As a bonus, I am slowly, but hopefully surely, becoming more computer smart. Now, just a little question for you, since I wasn't able to find the answer on the main Malwarebytes page. When you purchase the full program that runs in the background, how is it on system resources? My computer is already running a little slowly. A few other programs come up when we boot, but we close out of them.

Exile: Thanks!!! Hmm it says it might ask for a license key. I am not sure if I have one. Hopefully it doesn't ask me. It came free with the computer for either 3 months or a year.

Are they bad? I use facebook and myspace, and both redirected me to the antimalwarescanner website... once. :/ I don't really trust them ever since but I am hesitant to get rid of them because its how I keep in touch with some people.

Okay, thanks! Good to know Is it bad if traces are left behind? That link and the product is totally safe? I just want to be careful. Thanks again

Okay, thanks I guess I won't bother installing it then. It seemed like such a great feature too. I was dissapointed that I had bought it a few days before that feature came with the program.

Exile, I thank you so much!! I am so grateful to you!! Before I came to this forum I had been searching for answers and I could hardly find information. I have a computer techie friend I met online that works with computers for a living and he was helpful about the registry too, but you have been able to explain it in more detail and I understand it better. ATF Cleaner does the exact same thing as the Privacy portion of Desktop Maestro? It cleans off internet traces and computer traces the same way that the privacy portion of Desktop Maestro claims it does? Also, I was dissapointed to find out that Desktop Maestro does nothing to help with clearing out Firefox :/ My computer does seem to be running okay, although a bit slow since February when my antimalware scanner incident happened and then using Spyware Doctor, which REALLY slowed the computer down. I have gotten rid of it and no longer use it, but I am wondering if any leftovers of it might be responsible for the slowness. Thanks again, you are awesome

Victimized: Thank you I'll uninstall it tonight. Exile 360: I am going to uninstall it tonight. (I am not at that computer right now). I didnt' even realize having two at once was a problem until I came to this forum. Thanks for your response to the other thing as well, about disabling. You are very helpful, thank you SO much, once again.