Have a baddie

[Aaflac]

Welcome back, grace too!

On the Security Check program, there has been some problem with that link...
Please copy/paste the following in the address bar of your browser, and see if it works:

http://screen317.spywareinfoforum.org/SecurityCheck.exe

Have you uninstalled one of the AntiVirus programs?

If not, please do so, and try Chrome again, since something may be preventing Chrome from running, and it can be your AntiVirus or Firewall. And then, the program itself may be having issues.

Does accessing the Internet with another browser also give you problems, or, is it only Chrome?

When Chrome finds a website, and it is being loaded, it will show this blue circle, revolving clockwise. However, there are times when Chrome does not load the page or resolve the address until you stop it and navigate there again.
This has been reported over and over in different forums.

Also, it is possible you have installed extensions that cause problems in Chrome.
Try disabling all extensions and try to access the site. If it works fine, start adding the extensions one at a time (or two at a time if you have many) and find out if one of them is causing the problem.

Last, try cleaning Chrome:
http://support.google.com/chrome/bin...n&answer=95582

[grace too]

Hi Aaflac:

I uninstalled AdAware, but am now without a program to check for Adware, do you have a suggestion for one?

After uninstallation I rebooted and started up Chrome without a problem, also cleaned it too, although I've only been using it consistently for a week and a half or so, so it shouldn't have been too loaded down.

But I think your suggestion re: extensions, is dead on because I vaguely remember noticing the problem after using one of the many extensions I installed. So I will do as you mentioned and check them out one at a time, although I have a good idea that it may be one of two I used most recently. So anyway, thanks for the tips!

Okay, so I followed your instructions and downloaded and ran (as Admin.) the Security Check program, and the notepad results are as follows:

-----------------------------------------------

Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.43
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 x86 (UAC is enabled)
Internet Explorer 9
``````````````Antivirus/Firewall Check:``````````````
Windows Firewall Disabled!
Microsoft Security Essentials
Antivirus up to date!
`````````Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:`````````
MVPS Hosts File
Out of date HijackThis installed!
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 1.62.0.1300
HijackThis 2.0.2
Java(TM) 6 Update 29
Java version out of Date!
Adobe Reader 8 Adobe Reader out of Date!
Mozilla Firefox 10.0.2 Firefox out of Date!
Google Chrome 20.0.1132.57
Google Chrome 21.0.1180.60
Google Chrome VisualElementsManifest.xml..
````````Process Check: objlist.exe by Laurent````````
Microsoft Security Essentials MSMpEng.exe
Microsoft Security Essentials msseces.exe
CheckPoint ZoneAlarm vsmon.exe
CheckPoint ZoneAlarm zatray.exe
Trend Micro RUBotted RUBotSrv.exe
Trend Micro RUBotted RUBottedGUI.exe
`````````````````System Health check`````````````````
Total Fragmentation on Drive C: 3 % Defragment your hard drive soon!
````````````````````End of Log``````````````````````

Thanks again!

[Aaflac]

On AdAware:

You can install AdAware, if you like, but without its AntiVirus component.
You do not need, or should use, more than one AntiVirus program.

Actually, AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy are two excellent programs for detecting and eliminating spyware/adware, and it looks as if you have Spybot installed. Each program has its own unique interface and methodology, but, both programs are free downloads and both scan memory, the Registry, and hard drives for the presence of system invaders. Also, they both use a comprehensive database of ad programs, spyware, and other undesirables, for their scanning engine.


On the results of Security Check:

Please take care of the following. It is a vulnerability that you cannot afford to have:

Java version out of date!
Please verify the version of Java you have installed.

If your version of Java is outdated, it needs to be updated.
When done, uninstall older versions.


Adobe Reader out of Date!
Please download the latest version of Adobe Reader
Once installed, launch it, select: Help > Check for Updates, and install any updates.

Then, uninstall earlier versions:
Go to Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, and remove all older versions of Adobe Reader.

There is also the free Foxit PDF Reader if you prefer:


Firefox out of Date!
Make sure you are running the latest and most secure version of Firefox by Manually checking for updates.
The new version of Firefox will automatically take the place of your older version.


Total Fragmentation on Drive C: 3 % *Defragment your hard drive soon!*
To defragment on demand:
Go to Start Orb > Control Panel
Select: Control Panel Home
Select: System and Maintenance
Under Administrative Tool, select: Defragment your hard drive
Click the button: Defragment Now


After doing all of the above please provide an update on whether you are having any malware programs.

[grace too]

Hi again Aaflac,

Thank you for the spyware/adware advice. After I finished doing all that you recommended, I reinstalled and updated AdAware without the AntiVirus component, and then ran a scan. Oh, and prior to running the AdAware scan, I updated Spybot Search and Destroy and ran a scan with it, and it found 2 instances of the Microsoft Security Essentials. Weird.

Anyway, here is a list of what I did:

- Installed Java Version 7 Update 5
- Uninstalled Java Version 6 Update 29
- Noticed JavaFX 2.1.1 in the list of installed programs. Do I need this?
- Went back to test the new Java from the site provided, but keep getting the following error message:

Java Plug-in 10.5.1.255
Using JRE version 1.7.0_05-b06 Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM
User home directory = C:\Users\Pandora
----------------------------------------------------
c: clear console window
f: finalize objects on finalization queue
g: garbage collect
h: display this help message
l: dump classloader list
m: print memory usage
o: trigger logging
q: hide console
r: reload policy configuration
s: dump system and deployment properties
t: dump thread list
v: dump thread stack
x: clear classloader cache
0-5: set trace level to <n>
----------------------------------------------------

So I enabled Java through Chrome, and also went into the Java Plug-in Control Panel and it showed it was already enabled, cleared the web browser cache a few times and restarted the browser. Still getting the same error message. I'm assuming I will have Java problems now.

- Downloaded Adobe Reader X, checked for updates and there were none
- Uninstalled all earlier versions of Adobe

- Updated Firefox to 13.0.1

- Defragged the hard drive

Thanks for continuing to help me, Aaflac.

[Aaflac]

It seems that Chrome and Java are not getting along. Found the issue documented in several places, and Chrome has not found a solution for the problem.

Malware removal is the focus of this forum, so, you may want to post the issue in the Internet/Prowsers Forum. Someone with more knowledge on the issue may be able to help you there.

How is it going as far as malware is concerned, any problems there?

[grace too]

Hi Aaflac:

Sorry it has taken me a few days to get back to you, I've been caring for a sick dog.

The Chrome/Java situation is kind of funny because I have been a true blue IE user even though I've had nothing but ridicule for doing so, and constant suggestions to use Chrome. So I finally gave in about 2 weeks prior to getting the "baddie" and started using Chrome exclusively. Now I'm wondering if I should have just stayed with IE, lol.

Anyway, to answer your question, as far as I can tell, everything seems to be going alright and I guess I have no malware.

So thank you very much for all of your help and for seeing me through this situation. I really appreciate it, Aaflac.

[Aaflac]

Glad to help, and, if you are no longer having malware problems, you are good to go.

Please remove the programs we have used, and their related reports or folders.
RogueKiller
SecurityCheck
DDS

Just right-click on the program file located on your Desktop, and select: Delete

As far as Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware goes, you can keep it, if you wish, and schedule your calendar to scan with it on a regular basis. You can also do the same with the Eset Online Scanner.

Just make sure these programs are not all running at the same time. It is also best to temporarily disable your AV program when doing your scans.




Consider doing the following to prevent future infections...

Malware is normally installed through vulnerabilities found in out-dated and insecure programs on a computer.

Try using the Secunia Personal Software Inspector to scan for vulnerable programs.
A tutorial on how to use the program is found here.

Also, WOT (Web of Trust) is a program that warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam.

It offers a front-line layer of protection when browsing in unfamiliar territory.
Color-coded icons show you ratings for numerous websites, helping you avoid the dangerous sites.

WOT also has an Add-on available for both Firefox and Internet Explorer.


Surf safely, grace too!!

[grace too]

Wow Aaflac! Thanks for all of the additional information you've supplied.

I've deleted the programs that were used and have opened the others you suggested in tabs on my browser and will check into them as soon as I've finished posting this.

Thanks so much for all of your help, for answering my questions, and for giving suggestions. I deeply appreciate it. <insert grateful smilie>

Kudos to you, and keep up the great work!