Solved Excessive Pop-ups in XP

Running great, Thanks Geri!

 

Hi schneider51

OK Good to hear.
I will mark this thread resolved.

We have just a few more things to do, mostly maintenance and then our recommendations:

Delete all your cookies, and empty your recycle bin. (ATF Cleaner is good for this) But remember, by deleting your cookies, you will have to re-enter any passwords and log-in info for any sites you are usually required to do so with.

1. Spybot Search & Destroy - A powerful tool which can search and annhilate nasties that make it onto your system. Now with an Immunize section that will help prevent future infections.
   
   
2. AdAware - Another very powerful tool which searches and kills nasties that infect your system. AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy compliment each other very well.
   
   
3. SpywareBlaster - Great prevention tool to keep nasties from installing on your system.
   
   
4. SpywareGuard - Works as a Spyware "Shield" to protect your computer from getting malware in the first place.
   
   
5. IE-SpyAd - puts over 23,000 sites in your restricted zone so you'll be protected when you visit innocent-looking sites that aren't actually innocent at all,
   and MVPS Hosts File will accomplish a similar tactic and provide another layer of protection.
   
   
6. Install WinPatrol to prevent unknown applications from being inserted to start up on your machine
   
   Now just because you have security apps installed, they are useless unless updated regularly.
   
   
7. Another thing I would suggest, is to install SiteAdvisor. It gives sites a few different 'ratings' and while not fool proof, a good additional layer of information about many sites.
   
   
8. ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
   This program is for XP and Windows 2000 only, Cleans out temporary files all the garbage you collect while surfing the web.
   
   
9. Windows Updates - It is very important to make sure that both Internet Explorer and Windows are kept current with the latest critical security patches from Microsoft. To do this just start Internet Explorer and select Tools > Windows Update, and follow the online instructions from there.
   
   
10. Google Toolbar - Free google toolbar that allows you to use the powerful Google search engine from the bar, but also blocks pop up windows.
    
11. Trillian or Miranda-IM - These are Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN)

To find out more information about how you got infected in the first place and some great guidelines to follow to prevent future infections you can read this article by Tony Klein

Surf Safely
Geri