suspicious: iexplore.exe running with no browser open

There are a variety of instances caused by malware that will cause an IE process to be running even though you think they are all closed.

You should attempt to follow all the steps in this Sticky thread < READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal >

If you already have any of the programs linked in the tutorial please double check your version to make sure you have the latest one and that you have any/all updates for the programs.

NOTE: In order to resolve the issues you are having it is very important that you at least try to perform all the steps as outlined. If you have any difficulty please post back letting us know what steps you have completed, what you found while doing the scans if anything and details about any problems you have encountered in completing the steps. The more details you can provide the better.

If still having a problem after the above, you should read the tutorial in this Sticky thread NO HIJACK THIS LOG FILES BEFORE READING THIS: HJT Tutorial & LOG File Posting

Now post a HijackThis log file as an attachment to your message. All running programs should be closed, including your web browser, e-mail. Close before running Hijack This!

Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file. Place it in its own folder, for example C:\Program Files\HJT

Make sure you have HJT version 1.98.2 and follow the guidelines on where to install it and how to post a log as an attachment.