Needing Assistance - Conflict or Infection?

[Maurice Naggar]

OK. The safest thing -is- to do a wipe & clean install.

Make sure you have at hand a fresh new copy of your antivirus that is downloaded from a clean pc and saved on transportable-media (CD-DVD or clean thumb drive).

When you are at point of re-installing o.s., I'd recommend you have the pc disconnected from internet until after the o.s. is installed, plus the antivirus is fully setup and running.

You should create a "system repair disc" for your Windows 7 either to a CD, DVD, or new USB-flash-thumb drive {if your hardware can boot from USB}.

The following is a reference page at Microsoft and also has a link to a how-to-video.

Create a Windows 7 system repair disc

This "repair disc" is a very handy tool that one may use when and IF you are not able to start Windows 7 normally.

This "repair disc" or "rescue disc" is not intended as a replacement for having the Windows 7 operating system DVD.

Make a rescue disc, put a label on it, store it away for a "rainy day".

Safer practices & malware prevention

• Have a hardware router between the incoming internet-modem and your computer.
  
• Use a Standard user account rather than an administrator-rights account when "surfing" the web.
  
• Configure your Antivirus software to check for updates daily, at a time in which you are sure the computer will be on.
  
• Check in at Windows Update and install any Important Updates offered.
  
• Make certain that Automatic Updates is enabled.
  How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525
  
• Check on other update issues as well, by getting, installing and using Secunia Personal Software Inspector (OSI) on a monthly basis.
  See How to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs using Secunia Personal Software Inspector
  
• Download, install, and keep updated Spyware Blaster (free): http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html (all Protections should be enabled at all times)
  Tutorial for Spywareblaster: Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware, Hijackers, and Malware
  
• I'd recommend that you get and use MVP Mike Burgess' custom hosts file http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
  See the FAQ page http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm
  That would help to keep your browser away from known spyware/malware sites.
  Get notified when the MVPS HOSTS file is updated
  http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/updates.htm
  
• Make regular backups of your system to removable media: DVD, USB external hard drive, etc.
  Having a total image backup of your system stored on DVD/CD is highly important.
  Get and make use of imaging-backup utilities and save them to offline media. That way you have something to fall back to if a disaster hits.
  How to create a Windows system image in Windows 7 and Windows 8
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/create-system-image-in-windows-7-8/
  How to use System Image Recovery in the Windows 7 and Windows 8 Recovery Environment
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/system-image-recovery-in-windows-7-8/
  
  
• Consider using Web of Trust WOT add-on for your browser(s)
  http://www.mywot.com/en/download
  http://www.mywot.com/en/faq/add-on
  
• Take extreme care if you share USB-flash/thumb drives from other people {even from friends, roommates, relatives}
  Don't plug in an unknown flash/thumb drive into your PC.
  IF you must do so, hold down the SHIFT-key when you insert the drive.
  Scan any file with your Antivirus prior to opening or using.
  On some regular schedule, it is a good idea to do an online scan for viruses and malware. Here is a very short list of sites where this may be done:
  
  ESET Online Scanner
  BitDefender Quickscan
  Trend Micro Housecall
  F-Secure Online Scanner
  Microsoft Safety Scanner
  Panda ActiveScan
  
  
• See Six tips to help you stay safer online
  
• Never, ever download free games, free tools, videos, mutli-media files or anything free unless you can be absolutely sure the source is safe !
  

We are finished here. Best regards.