I'm having the same issue as a previous poster

[gowens]

Hey! There was a poster here recently that was having exactly the same issue I'm having. I'm getting the attached results in Malware Bytes ever few days and can't seem to get rid of them. I've downloaded the Fubar tool as you guys recommended the other fellow do and I've attached the files for that as well. Appreciate your time with this.

 

The original thread was here:

 

https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/topic/156658-aupdateexe-keeps-showing-up-in-scan-after-removal/

FRST.txt

Addition.txt

[gowens]

bump

[AdvancedSetup]

Hello and

Please read the following and post back the logs when ready and we'll see about getting you cleaned up.

General P2P/Piracy Warning:
 
 

 

If you're using

Peer 2 Peer

software such as

uTorrent, BitTorrent

or similar you must either fully uninstall them or completely disable them from running while being assisted here.

Failure to remove or disable such software will result in your topic being closed and no further assistance being provided.

If you have

illegal/cracked software, cracks, keygens etc

. on the system, please remove or uninstall them now and read the policy on

Piracy

.

 
Before we proceed further, please read all of the following instructions carefully.
If there is anything that you do not understand kindly ask before proceeding.
If needed please print out these instructions.

• Please do not post logs using CODE, QUOTE, or FONT tags. Just paste them as direct text.
• If the log is too large then you can use attachments by clicking on the More Reply Options button.
• Please enable your system to show hidden files: How to see hidden files in Windows
• Make sure you're subscribed to this topic:
  
  • Click on the Follow This Topic Button (at the top right of this page), make sure that the Receive notification box is checked and that it is set to Instantly
    

  [*]Removing malware can be unpredictable...It is unlikely but things can go very wrong! Please make sure you Backup all files that cannot be replaced if something were to happen. You can copy them to a CD/DVD, external drive or a pen drive [*]Please don't run any other scans, download, install or uninstall any programs unless requested by me while I'm working with you. [*]The removal of malware is not instantaneous, please be patient. Often we are also on a different Time Zone. [*]Perform everything in the correct order. Sometimes one step requires the previous one. [*]If you have any problems while following my instructions, Stop there and tell me the exact nature of the issue. [*]You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit [*]Please disable your antivirus while running any requested scanners so that they do not interfere with the scanners. [*]When we are done, I'll give you instructions on how to cleanup all the tools and logs [*]Please stick with me until I give you the "all clear" and Please don't waste my time by leaving before that. [*]Your topic will be closed if you haven't replied within 3 days [*](If I have not responded within 24 hours, please send me a Private Message as a reminder)
  

 
STEP 0
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes
so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections.
When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies
that stop us from using certain tools. When finished it will display a log file that shows the processes that were
terminated while the program was running.

As RKill only terminates a program's running process, and does not delete any files, after running it you should not reboot
your computer as any malware processes that are configured to start automatically will just be started again.
Instead, after running RKill you should immediately scan your computer using the requested scans I've included.

Please download Rkill by Grinler from one of the links below and save it to your desktop.
 

Link 1

Link 2

• On Windows XP double-click on the Rkill desktop icon to run the tool.
• On Windows Vista/Windows 7 or 8, right-click on the Rkill desktop icon and select Run As Administrator
• A black DOS box will briefly flash and then disappear. This is normal and indicates the tool ran successfully.
• If not, delete the file, then download and use the one provided in Link 2.
• If it does not work, repeat the process and attempt to use one of the remaining links until the tool runs.
• If the tool does not run from any of the links provided, please let me know.
• Do not reboot the computer, you will need to run the application again.
  

STEP 01
Backup the Registry:
Modifying the Registry can create unforeseen problems, so it always wise to create a backup before doing so.

• Please download ERUNT from one of the following links: Link1 | Link2 | Link3
• ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) is a free program that allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed.
• Double click on erunt-setup.exe to Install ERUNT by following the prompts.
• NOTE: Do not choose to allow ERUNT to add an Entry to the Startup folder. Click NO.
• Start ERUNT either by double clicking on the desktop icon or choosing to start the program at the end of the setup process.
• Choose a location for the backup.
  
  • Note: the default location is C:\Windows\ERDNT which is acceptable.
    

  [*]Make sure that at least the first two check boxes are selected. [*]Click on OK [*]Then click on YES to create the folder. [*]Note: if it is necessary to restore the registry, open the backup folder and start ERDNT.exe
  

STEP 02
Please run a Threat Scan with MBAM.  If you're unable to run or complete the scan as shown below please see the following:  MBAM Clean Removal Process 2x
When reinstalling the program please try the latest version.

Right click and choose "Run as administrator" to open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and from the Dashboard please Check for Updates by clicking the Update Now... link
Open up Malwarebytes > Settings > Detection and Protection > Enable Scan for rootkit and Under Non Malware Protection set both PUP and PUM to Treat detections as malware.
Click on the SCAN button and run a Threat Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware by clicking the Scan Now>> button.
Once completed please click on the History > Application Logs and find your scan log and open it and then click on the "copy to clipboard" button and post back the results on your next reply.
 
 
STEP 03
Please download RogueKiller and save it to your desktop.

You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• RogueKiller 32-bit | RogueKiller 64-bit
• Quit all running programs.
• For Windows XP, double-click to start.
• For Vista,Windows 7/8, Right-click on the program and select Run as Administrator to start and when prompted allow it to run.
• Read and accept the EULA (End User Licene Agreement)
• Click Scan to scan the system.
• When the scan completes Close the program > Don't Fix anything!
• Don't run any other options, they're not all bad!!
• Post back the report which should be located on your desktop.
  

Thank you
 

[gowens]

Thanks for the response. I've tried a couple of things since I posted, such as adwcleaner, but i can't tell if it found my issue since it's normally a day or so between occurrences. I've also uninstalled Microsoft security essentials in favor of Kasperski for the moment. Did a scan with that last night (30 day trial verison) which came up clean.

 

Step 0 - done

Step 1 - done and backed up

Step 2 - MBAM Log

 

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

www.malwarebytes.org

 

Scan Date: 9/14/2014

Scan Time: 6:26:41 PM

Logfile: 

Administrator: Yes

 

Version: 2.00.2.1012

Malware Database: v2014.09.14.09

Rootkit Database: v2014.09.13.01

License: Premium

Malware Protection: Enabled

Malicious Website Protection: Enabled

Self-protection: Enabled

 

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1

CPU: x64

File System: NTFS

User: Frost

 

Scan Type: Threat Scan

Result: Completed

Objects Scanned: 306271

Time Elapsed: 4 min, 22 sec

 

Memory: Enabled

Startup: Enabled

Filesystem: Enabled

Archives: Disabled

Rootkits: Enabled

Heuristics: Enabled

PUP: Enabled

PUM: Enabled

 

Processes: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Modules: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Keys: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Values: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Data: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Folders: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Files: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Physical Sectors: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

(end)

 

Step 4 - RogueKiller - Attached

 

Thanks again for the help.

RKreport_SCN_09142014_183658.log

[AdvancedSetup]

Please go ahead and run through the following steps and post back the logs when ready.
 
STEP 04
Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shutdown your antivirus to avoid any conflicts.
• Right click over JRT.exe and select Run as administrator on Windows Vista or Windows 7, double-click on XP.
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next reply message
• When completed make sure to re-enable your antivirus
  

STEP 05
Lets clean out any adware now: (this will require a reboot so save all your work)

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• When it's done you'll see: Pending: Please uncheck elements you don't want removed.
• Now click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R0].txt) will open in Notepad for review.
• Look over the log especially under Files/Folders for any program you want to save.
• If there's a program you may want to save, just uncheck it from AdwCleaner.
• If you're not sure, post the log for review. (all items found are adware/spyware/foistware)
• If you're ready to clean it all up.....click the Clean button.
• After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[s0].txt) will open automatically.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.
• Items that are deleted are moved to the Quarantine Folder: C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine
• To restore an item that has been deleted:
• Go to Tools > Quarantine Manager > check what you want restored > now click on Restore.
  

STEP 06
Please open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and from the Dashboard please Check for Updates by clicking the Update Now... link
Open up Malwarebytes > Settings > Detection and Protection > Enable Scan for rootkits, Under Non Malware Protection set both PUP and PUM to Treat detections as malware.
Click on the SCAN button and run a Threat Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware by clicking the Scan Now>> button. Remove any threats found
Once completed please click on the History > Application Logs and find your scan log and open it and then click on the "copy to clipboard" button and post back the results on your next reply.


STEP 07


Please go here to run the online antivirus scannner from ESET.

• Turn off the real time scanner of any existing antivirus program while performing the online scan
• Tick the box next to YES, I accept the Terms of Use.
• Click Start
• When asked, allow the activex control to install
• Click Start
• Make sure that the option Remove found threats is unticked
• Click on Advanced Settings and ensure these options are ticked:
  
  • Scan for potentially unwanted applications
  • Scan for potentially unsafe applications
  • Enable Anti-Stealth Technology
    

  
  [*]Click Scan [*]Wait for the scan to finish [*]If any threats were found, click the 'List of found threats' , then click Export to text file.... [*]Save it to your desktop, then please copy and paste that log as a reply to this topic.
  

STEP 08
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press the Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply as well.
  

[gowens]

Step 4 - JRT

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) by Thisisu

Version: 6.1.5 (09.16.2014:1)

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium x64

Ran by Frost on Tue 09/16/2014 at 20:29:43.90

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

 

~~~ Services

 

 

 

~~~ Registry Values

 

 

 

~~~ Registry Keys

 

 

 

~~~ Files

 

 

 

~~~ Folders

 

Successfully deleted: [Folder] "C:\Windows\syswow64\ai_recyclebin"

 

 

 

~~~ Event Viewer Logs were cleared

 

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scan was completed on Tue 09/16/2014 at 20:35:34.73

End of JRT log

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[gowens]

Step 5 - Adwcleaner

 

# AdwCleaner v3.310 - Report created 16/09/2014 at 20:39:49

# Updated 12/09/2014 by Xplode

# Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64 bits)

# Username : Frost - FROST-PC

# Running from : G:\Frost\Downloads\adwcleaner_3.310.exe

# Option : Clean

 

***** [ Services ] *****

 

 

***** [ Files / Folders ] *****

 

 

***** [ Scheduled Tasks ] *****

 

 

***** [ Shortcuts ] *****

 

 

***** [ Registry ] *****

 

 

***** [ Browsers ] *****

 

-\\ Internet Explorer v11.0.9600.17280

 

 

-\\ Mozilla Firefox v

 

-\\ Google Chrome v37.0.2062.120

 

[ File : C:\Users\Frost\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\preferences ]

 

Deleted [search Provider] : hxxp://www.ask.com/web?q={searchTerms}

Deleted [search Provider] : hxxp://search.aol.com/aol/search?q={searchTerms}

 

*************************

 

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [1387 octets] - [13/09/2014 10:56:41]

AdwCleaner[R1].txt - [1088 octets] - [13/09/2014 21:42:45]

AdwCleaner[R2].txt - [1065 octets] - [16/09/2014 20:38:14]

AdwCleaner[s0].txt - [1575 octets] - [13/09/2014 10:57:56]

AdwCleaner[s1].txt - [1154 octets] - [13/09/2014 21:43:51]

AdwCleaner[s2].txt - [1134 octets] - [16/09/2014 20:39:49]

 

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[s2].txt - [1194 octets] ##########

 

 

 

 

Step 6 - MBAM

 

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

www.malwarebytes.org

 

Scan Date: 9/16/2014

Scan Time: 8:43:29 PM

Logfile: 

Administrator: Yes

 

Version: 2.00.2.1012

Malware Database: v2014.09.16.09

Rootkit Database: v2014.09.15.01

License: Premium

Malware Protection: Enabled

Malicious Website Protection: Enabled

Self-protection: Enabled

 

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1

CPU: x64

File System: NTFS

User: Frost

 

Scan Type: Threat Scan

Result: Completed

Objects Scanned: 306591

Time Elapsed: 4 min, 11 sec

 

Memory: Enabled

Startup: Enabled

Filesystem: Enabled

Archives: Disabled

Rootkits: Enabled

Heuristics: Enabled

PUP: Enabled

PUM: Enabled

 

Processes: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Modules: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Keys: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Values: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Data: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Folders: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Files: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Physical Sectors: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

(end) 

[gowens]

Step 7 - ESET

 

C:\Program Files (x86)\IObit\Advanced SystemCare 7\Toolbar\iobitappsToolbar-stub-1.exe a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Widgi.B potentially unwanted application

[gowens]

Step 8 - Fubar

 

Files attached. 

 

Whew. =)

Addition.txt

FRST.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

STEP 1
I notice that you have the following software installed, which the ESET antivirus scan also flagged elements of it as unwanted.
 

Advanced SystemCare 7
IObit Uninstaller


The company behind these products was found to be stealing our database.
Personally I would not trust installing any software from a company that resorts to stealing someone's technology to sell their product.
Please see the following links and make up your own mind if you want to keep this on your system. If needed I can help you remove it.

• IOBit Steals Malwarebytes' Intellectual Property
• IOBit's Denial of Theft Unconvincing
• IOBit Theft Conclusion
• IObit: Trusting Your Antivirus Vendor
• Malwarebytes: IObit Stole Our Signatures Database
• IObit accused of stealing from Malwarebytes
• IOBit sucks at ethics
• Beware: IObit Malware Fighter

 

STEP 2
The logs also indicate that you're running 2 different antivirus products. You need to uninstall one of them I would highly suggest uninstalling Microsoft Security Essentials and leave Kaspersky antivirus installed.

STEP 3
Please read the following article cocerning the use of MSCONFIG
Msconfig Is Not A Startup Manager


STEP 4
Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

fixlist.txt

[gowens]

Point made. =) I've uninstalled the IOBit products after reading the reports listed below. Beyond the standard windows uninstall, are there other methods to ensure it's out?

 

One of the things I used that product for was the sweeping of the registry, removing excess files left behind after uninstalling a program, etc. Is there a better suite out there that does similar?

 

Also, I've pulled out Security Essentials and will license Kasp. Is there better tool that you would recommend? Right now, this leaves me with Kasp and MalwareBytes (main and anti-exploit).

 

I'd not been using MSCONFIG, but the startup manager in IOBit ASC. It was using MSCONFIG apparently. =)

 

Last but not least, the fixlog.txt is attached. 

 

Thanks,

G

Fixlog.txt

[AdvancedSetup]

Point made. =) I've uninstalled the IOBit products after reading the reports listed below. Beyond the standard windows uninstall, are there other methods to ensure it's out?

We can run a new FRST scan and see if it sees anything.

 

One of the things I used that product for was the sweeping of the registry, removing excess files left behind after uninstalling a program, etc. Is there a better suite out there that does similar?

Please read the following and see why it's not a good thing to run a registry cleaner

Do I need a Windows Registry Cleaner?

 

 

Also, I've pulled out Security Essentials and will license Kasp. Is there better tool that you would recommend? Right now, this leaves me with Kasp and MalwareBytes (main and anti-exploit).

I have high regards for Kasperksy personally. I think it is probably the best at file infector removal and tough virus infections. A lot of the appeal of one antivirus over another is often the Graphical Interface for many users. As long as you're happy with it then it is a great program.

 

List of well known antivirus products

 

 

I'd not been using MSCONFIG, but the startup manager in IOBit ASC. It was using MSCONFIG apparently. =)

 

Last but not least, the fixlog.txt is attached. 

 

Thanks,

G

 

 

 

Okay now that we have those out of the way please run the following again for me.

 

 

Please open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and from the Dashboard please Check for Updates by clicking the Update Now... link

Open up Malwarebytes > Settings > Detection and Protection > Enable Scan for rootkits, Under Non Malware Protection set both PUP and PUM to Treat detections as malware.

Click on the SCAN button and run a Threat Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware by clicking the Scan Now>> button. Remove any threats found

Once completed please click on the History > Application Logs and find your scan log and open it and then click on the "copy to clipboard" button and post back the results on your next reply.

 

[gowens]

Here you go. Thanks for the question answer too. I'm sure you guys are inundated with that sort of thing all the time.

 

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

www.malwarebytes.org

 

Scan Date: 9/18/2014

Scan Time: 7:27:34 PM

Logfile: 

Administrator: Yes

 

Version: 2.00.2.1012

Malware Database: v2014.09.18.09

Rootkit Database: v2014.09.18.01

License: Premium

Malware Protection: Enabled

Malicious Website Protection: Enabled

Self-protection: Enabled

 

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1

CPU: x64

File System: NTFS

User: Frost

 

Scan Type: Threat Scan

Result: Completed

Objects Scanned: 307174

Time Elapsed: 4 min, 24 sec

 

Memory: Enabled

Startup: Enabled

Filesystem: Enabled

Archives: Disabled

Rootkits: Enabled

Heuristics: Enabled

PUP: Enabled

PUM: Enabled

 

Processes: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Modules: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Keys: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Values: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Registry Data: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Folders: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Files: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

Physical Sectors: 0

(No malicious items detected)

 

 

(end)

[AdvancedSetup]

That all looks good.

 

How is the computer running now?

Are there still any signs of an infection?

 

 

Please download Security Check by screen317 from HERE or HERE.

• Save it to your Desktop.
• Double click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
• If you get Unsupported operating system. Aborting now, just reboot and try again.
• A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt.
• Please Post the contents of that document.
• Do Not Attach It!!!
  

 

[gowens]

It's running pretty well, actually. I've not been on it much since we started all this except for playing a round of Battlefield 4 last night (I was weak) but I've not seen any of the alerts since. Oh, and on this scan it notes Wise Registry Cleaner; I'll uninstall that after typing this. I did that before I read your linked articles on registry health. And my drive c: IS an SSD.

 

 Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.87  

 Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x64 (UAC is enabled)  

 Internet Explorer 11  

``````````````Antivirus/Firewall Check:`````````````` 

 Windows Firewall Enabled!  

Microsoft Security Essentials   

Kaspersky Anti-Virus            

 Antivirus up to date!  (On Access scanning disabled!) 

`````````Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:````````` 

 Wise Registry Cleaner 8.23  

  Adobe Flash Player 11.9.900.152 Flash Player out of Date!  

 Adobe Reader XI  

 Google Chrome 37.0.2062.103  

 Google Chrome 37.0.2062.120  

````````Process Check: objlist.exe by Laurent````````  

 Malwarebytes Anti-Malware mbamservice.exe  

 Malwarebytes Anti-Malware mbam.exe  

 Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Anti-Virus 15.0.0 avp.exe  

 Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Anti-Virus 15.0.0 avpui.exe  

 Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Anti-Virus 15.0.0 plugin-nm-server.exe  

 Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Anti-Virus 15.0.0 klwtblfs.exe  

 Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit mbae-svc.exe   

 Malwarebytes Anti-Malware mbamscheduler.exe   

 Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit mbae.exe   

`````````````````System Health check````````````````` 

 Total Fragmentation on Drive C: 43% Defragment your hard drive soon! (Do NOT defrag if SSD!)

````````````````````End of Log`````````````````````` 

[AdvancedSetup]

Great, At this time there are no more signs of an infection on your system.
However if you are still seeing any signs of an infection please let me know.

Let's go ahead and remove the tools and logs we've used during this process.

Most of the tools used are potentially dangerous to use unsupervised or if ran at the wrong time.
They are often updated daily so if you went to use them again in the future they would be outdated anyways.

The following procedures will implement some cleanup procedures to remove these tools.
 
Download Delfix from here and save it to your desktop. (you may already have this)

• Ensure Remove disinfection tools is checked.
• Click the Run button.
• Reboot
  

Any other programs or logs that are still remaining, you can manually delete. (right click.....Delete)
IE: RogueKiller.exe, RKreport.txt, RK_Quarantine folder, C:\FRST folder, FRST-OlderVersion folder, MBAR folder, etc....AdwCleaner > just run the program and click uninstall.

Note:
If you used FRST and can't delete the quarantine folder:
Download the fixlist.txt to the same folder as FRST.exe.
Run FRST.exe and click Fix only once and wait
That will delete the quarantine folder created by FRST.
The rest you can manually delete.
 
 
If there are any other left over Folders, Files, Logs then you can delete them on your own.
 
Please visit the following link to see how to delete old System Restore Points. Please delete all of them and create a new one at this time.
How to Delete System Protection Restore Points in Windows 7 and Windows 8

Remove all but the most recent Restore Point on Windows XP


As Java seems to get exploited on a regular basis I advise not using Java if possible but to at least disable java in your web browsers
How do I disable Java in my web browser? - Disable Java

A lot of reading here but if you take the time to read a bit of it you'll see why/how infections and general damage are so easily inflicted on the computer. There is also advice on how to prevent it and keep the system working well. Don't forget about good, solid backups of your data to an external drive that is not connected except when backing up your data. If you leave a backup drive connected and you do get infected it can easily damage, encrypt, delete, or corrupt your backups as well and then you'd lose all data.
Nothing is 100% bulletproof but with a little bit of education you can certainly swing things in your favor.

• How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected
• Best Practices for Safe Computing - Prevention of Malware Infection
• Avoiding those unwanted free applications
• A close look at how Oracle installs deceptive software with Java updates
• IAC / Ask.com toolbars
• Malwarebytes Unpacked Blog
  

If you're not currently using Malwarebytes Premium then you may want to consider purchasing the product which can also help greatly reduce the risk of a future infection.
 

[gowens]

Ok, I should be cleaned out. I've gotten rid of everything I think, including Wise. Cleared all sys restore and then created a new one. I'm going to look at creating an image backup of my c: drive too since I've got more than enough external storage that I can plug in and out to do it. I've got this thread bookmarked and will read the reference material likely this weekend. Gotta say, I'm pretty amazed at how you guys keep all this stuff straight. I've not been through this many utilities in a row in a long time. =)

 

Oh, and I have Premium. Going to license Anti-Exploit too. After this, definitely.

 

Oh, and one last noob question. I noticed that while it did flag my ssd as beign at 47%ish frag. I understand that it's basically a big flash disc and doesn't approach fragmentation the way platters do, but is there a need to get that percentage down? And how would  I even do that, since the tools that came with my samsung don't address that.

[AdvancedSetup]

Typically from all the MFG support and engineering sites on SSD drives they all say that there is no need to defrag them. Doing so can potentially reduce the life expectancy of the drive. There is a limited number or charge/discharge (read/write) cycles that the drive can do so defagging it once shouldn't really hurt it but doubt you'd see much difference in speed. However defragging it often is not a good idea.

 

Don't forget about this - plenty of good freeware utilities.

Backup Software

I'll close you topic soon. Take care and stay safe out there.

[AdvancedSetup]

Glad we could help.

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