Getting Started

I'm having problems with internet windows opening up to random no-fun sites whether I'm at the computer or not. If I run my anti-virus scan (Symantec), ad-aware, and Spybot Search and destroy once a day or so it keeps the problem under control, although annoying (and everytime I walk by my computer I have to check and see if there are any new windows open and close them). If I let it go for a few days my computer becomes essentially unusable.

Being pretty computer un-savy I'm going to follow the instructions in "READ AND RUN ME FIRST before asking support."

Since I'm pretty un-savy, I need step by step instructions and I was a little unclear about some of the steps.

Step 1isable System Restore temporarily (only applies to WinXP & WinME) After Malware has been Removed.

Do I do this immediately upon reboot after step six? Do I wait to see if I still have a problem first? Do I do it before or after step 7 (the Hi-jack This step).


Under step 5, Cleaning Malware it says:

All of you Win9x & ME users should be running CounterSpy at this point since you cannot run Microsoft Antispyware.

What is Microsoft Antispyware? (I have windows xp) Is it the same as Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool listed in step 4 but which I don't see any instruction for when to use? If it is, should I run that in this step?


After Step 6,
when I've run all the scans and reboot in normal mode, do I then immediately run Hi-Jack This or do I wait and see if I have still have a problem?

If I still have a problem do I start over from step one, and generate new logs in the steps that require logs? Or do I go ahead post my problem and already generated logs here?


Sorry for the elementary questions, but this is new to me.

 

I will have you do this at the end of the cleaning process.

It is now called "Windows Defender". It's an antispyware program for protection and removal of most malware infections.

After you complete the online scans, you attach both logs with a Hijack This log to your next post.

You post the logs as requested.