Is it a virus or spyware?

[frank777]

Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago. They
were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2 and
Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.

I have all the MS critical updates installed and use Norton System Works
(w/ Antivirus)2006 scan every day.
I also have installed Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy,
Lavasoft Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster, all updated
regularly. Only things that ever comes up during scans are some tracking
cookies discovered by Adaware. I even scanned my computer in safe mode but
nothing showed up.

Having sad all that, my computer is still acting strangely.
It runs slower then it used to, even thou not all the time. It takes quite
along time for some applications to open and run.
Sometimes computer won't shut down, just hanging before turning itself
down.
I can hear my hard disk running a lot or screen comes back on at random
(computer wakes up) even when no application is used and no key pressed.
There are about 25 files in Internet temp. folder and one other internet
clutter file that can't be deleted either manually or by Norton "One Button"
check up.

Can anybody suggest what to do and how can I be sure there are no malicious
programs running on my computer?
Thanks a lot,
Frank

[Bill Ridgeway]

You have <<Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy, Lavasoft
Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster>> running. That's somewhat
over the top, they are all using resource and, possibly 'fighting' with each
other. You could reduce the antispyware products from 3 to 2 and, possibly,
also do without Lavasoft Adaware.

You could have too many applications running at start-up.

Part of the solution may be to stop applications running at start up. Have
a look (Windows explorer- Documents and settings) at all Start
Menu-Programs-Start Up. These are only icons so it is safe to delete all
that are not absolutely essential. You could also look at System
Configuration Utility (Msconfig) and untick anything you don't want to start
at start-up - but be careful for some strange results -although they can be
rectified.

Another part of a solution may be to defragment the hard disk.

Yet another possible solution is to clean the Registry using something like
Registry Mechanic.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

"frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Kvidnfm8sekYSUDYnZ2dnUVZ_tunnZ2d@adelphia.com ...
> Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago. They
> were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2 and
> Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.
>
> I have all the MS critical updates installed and use Norton System Works
> (w/ Antivirus)2006 scan every day.
> I also have installed Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy,
> Lavasoft Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster, all updated
> regularly. Only things that ever comes up during scans are some tracking
> cookies discovered by Adaware. I even scanned my computer in safe mode but
> nothing showed up.
>
> Having sad all that, my computer is still acting strangely.
> It runs slower then it used to, even thou not all the time. It takes quite
> along time for some applications to open and run.
> Sometimes computer won't shut down, just hanging before turning itself
> down.
> I can hear my hard disk running a lot or screen comes back on at random
> (computer wakes up) even when no application is used and no key pressed.
> There are about 25 files in Internet temp. folder and one other internet
> clutter file that can't be deleted either manually or by Norton "One
> Button" check up.
>
> Can anybody suggest what to do and how can I be sure there are no
> malicious programs running on my computer?
> Thanks a lot,
> Frank
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[David H. Lipman]

From: "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com>

| Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago. They
| were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2 and
| Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.
|

Please don't Multi-post.
Please learn to Cross-Post to pertinent, On Topic, News Groups instead.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

[Lil' Abner]

"frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:Kvidnfm8sekYSUDYnZ2dnUVZ_tunnZ2d@adelphia.com :

> Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago.
> They were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2
> and Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.
>
> I have all the MS critical updates installed and use Norton System
> Works (w/ Antivirus)2006 scan every day.
> I also have installed Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy,
> Lavasoft Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster, all updated
> regularly. Only things that ever comes up during scans are some
> tracking cookies discovered by Adaware. I even scanned my computer in
> safe mode but nothing showed up.
>
> Having sad all that, my computer is still acting strangely.
> It runs slower then it used to, even thou not all the time. It takes
> quite along time for some applications to open and run.

NSW and Webroot Spysweeper are both resource hogs.

--
--- A dyslexic man walks into a bra ---

[Robin T Cox]

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:35:48 -0500, frank777 wrote:

> Can anybody suggest what to do and how can I be sure there are no
> malicious programs running on my computer?

Use a program such as Process Explorer by Sysinternals to list all the
programs that are running. Then check them against a list such as that in
Pac's Portal.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys...sExplorer.mspx

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

[frank777]

Sorry Dave,
I posted into two groups because I did not know which one would be better
for my problem. One is about viruses and other about spyware.
Anyway, thanks for the advice. I will download Hijack This and let you guys
know if I find something wrong.
What means Cross-Post?
Frank

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
news:T9oDh.3523$XT.897@trnddc06...
> From: "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com>
>
> | Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago.
> They
> | were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2 and
> | Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.
> |
>
> Please don't Multi-post.
> Please learn to Cross-Post to pertinent, On Topic, News Groups instead.
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>

[frank777]

Actually, I only run Norton Antivirus and Zone Alarm during start up in
system tray (Msconfig). I also defragged recently.
Thanks for the other suggestions thou, I will do that.
Frank


"Bill Ridgeway" <info@1001solutions.co.uk> wrote in message
news:erknle$v18$1@aioe.org...
> You have <<Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy, Lavasoft
> Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster>> running. That's
> somewhat over the top, they are all using resource and, possibly
> 'fighting' with each other. You could reduce the antispyware products
> from 3 to 2 and, possibly, also do without Lavasoft Adaware.
>
> You could have too many applications running at start-up.
>
> Part of the solution may be to stop applications running at start up.
> Have a look (Windows explorer- Documents and settings) at all Start
> Menu-Programs-Start Up. These are only icons so it is safe to delete all
> that are not absolutely essential. You could also look at System
> Configuration Utility (Msconfig) and untick anything you don't want to
> start at start-up - but be careful for some strange results -although they
> can be rectified.
>
> Another part of a solution may be to defragment the hard disk.
>
> Yet another possible solution is to clean the Registry using something
> like Registry Mechanic.
>
> Regards.
>
> Bill Ridgeway
> Computer Solutions
>
> "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:Kvidnfm8sekYSUDYnZ2dnUVZ_tunnZ2d@adelphia.com ...
>> Hi, I have had virus /Trojans and spyware on my computer a while ago.
>> They were all eliminated. My computer is Dell 9200 with Windows XP SP2
>> and Explorer 6. I clean internet temp. files and cookies regularly.
>>
>> I have all the MS critical updates installed and use Norton System Works
>> (w/ Antivirus)2006 scan every day.
>> I also have installed Zone Alarm fire wall, Spybot Search and Destroy,
>> Lavasoft Adaware, Webroot Spy Sweeper and Spyware Blaster, all updated
>> regularly. Only things that ever comes up during scans are some tracking
>> cookies discovered by Adaware. I even scanned my computer in safe mode
>> but nothing showed up.
>>
>> Having sad all that, my computer is still acting strangely.
>> It runs slower then it used to, even thou not all the time. It takes
>> quite along time for some applications to open and run.
>> Sometimes computer won't shut down, just hanging before turning itself
>> down.
>> I can hear my hard disk running a lot or screen comes back on at random
>> (computer wakes up) even when no application is used and no key pressed.
>> There are about 25 files in Internet temp. folder and one other internet
>> clutter file that can't be deleted either manually or by Norton "One
>> Button" check up.
>>
>> Can anybody suggest what to do and how can I be sure there are no
>> malicious programs running on my computer?
>> Thanks a lot,
>> Frank
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[David H. Lipman]

From: "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com>

| Sorry Dave,
| I posted into two groups because I did not know which one would be better
| for my problem. One is about viruses and other about spyware.
| Anyway, thanks for the advice. I will download Hijack This and let you guys
| know if I find something wrong.
| What means Cross-Post?
| Frank
|

That means the one created post goes to multiple News groups at the same time instead of
creating one post for one group and then another post for another group, etc.

The advantage is that ALL News Groups get the same replies and all groups get the benefit of
the communication.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

[frank777]

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
news:wxqDh.2488$h8.2238@trnddc05...
> From: "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com>
>
> | Sorry Dave,
> | I posted into two groups because I did not know which one would be
> better
> | for my problem. One is about viruses and other about spyware.
> | Anyway, thanks for the advice. I will download Hijack This and let you
> guys
> | know if I find something wrong.
> | What means Cross-Post?
> | Frank
> |
>
> That means the one created post goes to multiple News groups at the same
> time instead of
> creating one post for one group and then another post for another group,
> etc.
>
> The advantage is that ALL News Groups get the same replies and all groups
> get the benefit of
> the communication.
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>

[frank777]

How do you "Cross-Post"


"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message
news:wxqDh.2488$h8.2238@trnddc05...
> From: "frank777" <frank777@yahoo.com>
>
> | Sorry Dave,
> | I posted into two groups because I did not know which one would be
> better
> | for my problem. One is about viruses and other about spyware.
> | Anyway, thanks for the advice. I will download Hijack This and let you
> guys
> | know if I find something wrong.
> | What means Cross-Post?
> | Frank
> |
>
> That means the one created post goes to multiple News groups at the same
> time instead of
> creating one post for one group and then another post for another group,
> etc.
>
> The advantage is that ALL News Groups get the same replies and all groups
> get the benefit of
> the communication.
>
> --
> Dave
> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
> http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm
>
>