1) I went to
-Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs
I found that I had:
-CCleaner (remove only)
-Symnatec Anti-Virus
-Threatfire
CCleaner (remove only)
< Temporary file cleaner. Good for daily use to keep your hard drive clutter free.Symnatec Anti-Virus
< AntivirusThreatfire
< I don't use it and don't recommend it's use. Not that it is a bad product I just simply don't use it. Instead I use Spywareblaster. If you want to uninstall it, or don't understand it then get rid of it. Threatfire OverviewI thought since I had symnatec...all I needed was SAS and Malwarebytes.
You are covered with Symantec for an antivirus. Alternate running SAS and MBAM every other week or so for layered approach to detecting malware. An antivirus alone isn't enough, you need a "second opinion" from time to time.
-I am confused since you and Klein offer different recommendations...what is your recommendation given my CPU history?
First, it's your HDD you are protecting. CPU is totally different. A virus attacks/targets system files/folders on the hard drive. No biggie we just need to use the same descriptions to understand each other better.
A few posts back I said everyone has a different mix of security, it is down to trying the different options and what suits you the best. Here is what I use, others will have a different mix of security depending on what they like.
Antivirus - Avast Home Free
Firewall - I'm using Windows built in firewall now. If you do any online banking, eBay etc. then you will want to use a third party firewall like Comodo. Windows firewall is a basic firewall and lacks bi-directional blocking abilities.
Malware scanners - MalwareBytes (paid version with real time protection), Superantispyware.
Security monitor - WinPatrol 2008
Behavior blocking (bad website blocking) - Spybot Search & Destroys Immunize feature & Spywareblaster.
3) I went ahead downloaded malwarebytes. I ran a scan, enclosed below
(Rogue.AdwareAlert) -> No action taken. < Did you have MBAM remove these entries?
-What do you think...was my system pretty bad?
Not according to what I saw in the Hijackthis log, but since there are still problems with SAS we should take a closer look with a more powerful/informative scan.
5) Speaking of the Malwarebytes scan...I do not understand why it is telling me the infected files come from Adware since I removed that awhile ago from my computer.
-Between this and the SAS error....what is going on?
AdwareAlert and Ad-Aware are two different programs. AdwareAlert tricks users into trying to get them to purchase the full licensed version. Once paid for suddenly there are no problems on the PC. Which is why it is labeled a rouge.
6) Lastly...I don't understand I have
-StartupLite as an icon on my desktop...yet in control panel...add/remove programs it is not listed.
-Further...when I go to start>all programs neither startuplite or hijack this are listed.
-Why and how to fix?
StartUpLite doesn't actually install, just delete it and it's gone.
C:\Documents and Settings\Trent Berger\Desktop\HijackThis.exe < Because it is installed in the wrong location. Delete it from the desktop and it will be gone.
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Now lets do a scan which will let me know more of what's going on. Please read the instructions first and follow them exactly. This is a complex and powerful tool that needs to be treated with caution.
Download Combofix by sUBs from one of the below links.
Important! Combofix.exe
MUST be saved to and ran from the
Desktop.
- Close any open Web browsers. (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc) before starting Combofix.
- Important! Temporarily disable your antivirus, script blocking and any antispyware real time protection before performing a scan.
- Click this link to see a list of security programs that should be disabled and how to disable them.
- If yours is not listed and you don't know how to disable it, please ask.
- Warning: Combofix disconnects your computer from the internet. The connection is automatically restored before Combofix completes its run.
- Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
- Choose Yes to accept the Disclaimers.
- When finished, it will produce a log for you.
- Post that log in your next reply.
Warning: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall- If Combofix runs into difficulty and terminates prematurely, the connection can be manually restored by restarting your computer.
- Important: Remember to re-enable your antivirus and antispyware before reconnecting to the Internet.
CF disconnects your machine from the internet. The connection is automatically restored before CF completes its run. If CF runs into difficulty and terminates prematurely, the connection can be manually restored by restarting your machine.If needed, see this
Combofix tutorial with screenshots that will detail more thoroughly the downloading and running of combofix.
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Next post add
Combofix log