If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, much of the "malware" that is proliferating right now will embed itself into the system registry, or modify/replace existing valid executables on the system. Many times removal applications will remove the registry entries, and then the application (still running in memory) will reinstall the registry entries prior to being shutdown. Then when you boot your computer again, presto the problems are back again. Others will lie dormant until activated by your browser or other applications, then re-download themselves across the Internet.
Bottom line is that tools like Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are great tools and should be run regularly to assist with keeping your system clean. However, there are so many new and evolving methods for Spyware, it is not uncommon to need some "professional" help.
Many of my customers just don't want to spend the 4-6 hours to clean their systems and would rather just have someone else do it for them!
One of my customers said it quite well. "There is enough information on the Internet to allow me to rebuild my transmission on my car by myself... It doesn't mean I should try!"
I have seen this a few times, and have always been able to find another malware program that existed on my system. You may want to go to one of the forums like spywareinfo.org and post your HiJackThis log to get some help in finding other potential issues. If there isn't anything there, at least you will get a broader set of eyes to confirm that everything is ok.
I think different people have opinions about what "cleaning" is.
Many people are offering a "cleaning" where they simply run an updated anti-virus program, Sypbot S&D and AdAware. Many shops (like the big chain stores) are offering this type of thing at their shops for something at or below $100 and probably takes them 2-3 hours.
From my experience, this is incomplete since most systems I see have never had regular Windows Updates, have old or expired anti-virus definitions and require significantly more work.
When I do a "cleaning", I usually do the following (not necessarily in this order):
Purge typical TEMP file locations (for users and Windows).
Complete virus scan with at least 2 anti-virus programs.
Windows Update. Quite often this is more time consuming than any other step since it is not unusual to need to complete 20+ updates and SP2 for XP.
Run AdAware and Spybot S&D (multiple times)
Examine all existing running processes, BHOs, etc using tools like HiJackThis (not for casual users).
Install Mozilla Firefox and SpywareBlaster to provide some level of protection going forward.
As long as the system is there, do a little XP tuning and defrag the hard drive if necessary (optional step).
Time spent is usually 5-6 per system. At $200 per system, you still have to do more than one at a time to begin to make a real business out of it.
In reading through these threads, it sounds like most people are just doing this as side work, or as an augmentation to their existing PC business.
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If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, much of the "malware" that is proliferating right now will embed itself into the system registry, or modify/replace existing valid executables on the system. Many times removal applications will remove the registry entries, and then the application (still running in memory) will reinstall the registry entries prior to being shutdown. Then when you boot your computer again, presto the problems are back again. Others will lie dormant until activated by your browser or other applications, then re-download themselves across the Internet.
Bottom line is that tools like Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware are great tools and should be run regularly to assist with keeping your system clean. However, there are so many new and evolving methods for Spyware, it is not uncommon to need some "professional" help.
Many of my customers just don't want to spend the 4-6 hours to clean their systems and would rather just have someone else do it for them!
One of my customers said it quite well. "There is enough information on the Internet to allow me to rebuild my transmission on my car by myself... It doesn't mean I should try!"
I have seen this a few times, and have always been able to find another malware program that existed on my system. You may want to go to one of the forums like spywareinfo.org and post your HiJackThis log to get some help in finding other potential issues. If there isn't anything there, at least you will get a broader set of eyes to confirm that everything is ok.
- Purge typical TEMP file locations (for users and Windows).
- Complete virus scan with at least 2 anti-virus programs.
- Windows Update. Quite often this is more time consuming than any other step since it is not unusual to need to complete 20+ updates and SP2 for XP.
- Run AdAware and Spybot S&D (multiple times)
- Examine all existing running processes, BHOs, etc using tools like HiJackThis (not for casual users).
- Install Mozilla Firefox and SpywareBlaster to provide some level of protection going forward.
- As long as the system is there, do a little XP tuning and defrag the hard drive if necessary (optional step).
Time spent is usually 5-6 per system. At $200 per system, you still have to do more than one at a time to begin to make a real business out of it.In reading through these threads, it sounds like most people are just doing this as side work, or as an augmentation to their existing PC business.