Virus?

[evilfantasy]

O13 - Gopher Prefix: is normal on Vista computers. Removing it is up to you.

Use the Kaspersky Lab Online Scanner

In Microsoft Windows Vista, you must open the Web browser using the Run as Administrator command. From the Desktop right click the icon to open the browser and choose Run as Administrator.

• Click on SCAN NOW
  
• Click Accept.
  
• The program will then begin downloading the latest definition files.
• Once the files have been downloaded locate the Scan Settings and have it scan My Computer.
  
• The scan will take a while, so be patient and let it finish.

When the scan is done, in the Scan is complete window, any infection is displayed.
There is no option to clean/disinfect, however, we need to analyze the information on the report.

To obtain the report:
Click on: Save Report As

• Next, in the Save as prompt, Save in area, select: Desktop.
  
• In the File name area use KScan, or something similar.
  
• In Save as type: click the drop arrow and select: Text file [*.txt]
  
• Then, click: Save

Copy and paste the Kaspersky Online Scanner Report in your next reply.

Note for Internet Explorer 7 and 8 users: If at any time you have trouble viewing the accept button of the license, click on the Zoom tool located at the bottom right of the IE window and set the zoom to 75%. Once the license is accepted, reset to 100%.

If needed, this animation will guide you through the process.

[ArtVandalay7]

Thanks!  I ran the Kaspersky scan but it didn't find anything (nothing in the scan report)...Computer just froze up again and required 2 attempts to reboot to get it back on...

[macdad-]

Thanks Evil, i was kinda running into corners 

[evilfantasy]

Thanks Evil, i was kinda running into corners 

No problem.

It;'s likely not a malware issue.

[ArtVandalay7]

scan result attached.   FWIW, the problem seems to have occurred after one of the online adbots started to detect viruses on my computer and I had to close the browser to get rid of it...

[attachment deleted by admin]

[evilfantasy]

online adbots

Well you appear to have luckily escaped.

WOT will help you avoid that from happening again.

I suggest using WOT - Web of Trust. WOT is a free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky website. It's easy and it's free.

SpywareBlaster - Secure your Internet Explorer to make it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. Also stop certain cookies from being added to your computer when running Mozilla based browsers like Firefox.
* Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
* If you don't know what ActiveX controls are, see here

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Use the Secunia Software Inspector to check for out of date software.

• Click Start Now
  
• Check the box next to Enable thorough system inspection.
  
• Click Start
  
• Allow the scan to finish and scroll down to see if any updates are needed.
• Update anything listed.

.
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Go to Microsoft Windows Update and get all critical updates.

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Check out Keeping Yourself Safe On The Web for tips and free tools to help keep you safe in the future.

Also see Slow Computer? It May Not Be Malware for free cleaning/maintenance tools to help keep your computer running smooth.

[BC_Programmer]

oooh! And AdBlockPlus, that's a great add-in!

[ArtVandalay7]

I was using adaware and spybot in addition to McAfee before I think I may have picked up a virus, etc.  Do you think I escaped?  These occasional freezeups didn't happen before and I didn't think the screen flashed so dramatically at each startup but maybe I'm mistaken.  If so, whew and I'll add those programs instead of the aforementioned ones I used before...

[evilfantasy]

Ad-aware and Spybot are not as powerful as MalwareBytes and SUPERAntiSpyware.

Also use this.

SpywareBlaster - Secure your Internet Explorer to make it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. Also stop certain cookies from being added to your computer when running Mozilla based browsers like Firefox.
* Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
* If you don't know what ActiveX controls are, see here

[ArtVandalay7]

gotcha, will do.  What do you think, since the Kaspersky scan was clean, does that mean that I'm virus-free?

[evilfantasy]

You appear to have luckily escaped.

[ArtVandalay7]

I don't know, the computer is still freezing up and requiring 2 hard reboots to get it going again when it does...seems like something is still not right...

[evilfantasy]

Download ComboFix© by sUBs from one of the below links. Be sure top save it to the Desktop.

Link #1
Link #2

**Note:  It is important that it is saved directly to your Desktop

Close any open Web browsers. (Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc) before starting ComboFix.

Temporarily disable your antivirus, 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.
 
Double click combofix.exe & follow the prompts.
When finished ComboFix will produce a log for you.
Post the ComboFix log in your next reply.

Important: Do not mouseclick ComboFix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

Remember to re-enable your antivirus and antispyware protection when ComboFix is complete.

If you have problems with ComboFix usage, see How to use ComboFix

[ArtVandalay7]

here's the combofix output...thanks

[attachment deleted by admin]

[evilfantasy]

Please go to Start > Run and copy/paste the following, then press Enter:

C:\QooBox\Add-Remove Programs.txt

A text file should open. Please post the contents of that file in your next reply.