Hi Riva,
[pop-ups, aargh] Did I do the right thing?
If you're really paranoid, any compromised machine should have its data
backed up and its OS reinstalled.
If you just want to clean it up, though:
1. Remove suspect program via "add/remove programs" list. Check in Explorer
to make sure it hasn't left anything behind.
2. Go through the rest of the list and kill off anything else that looks
suspicious. Google anything you're not sure about. If Kazaa is there, get
rid of it and explain about BitTorrent.
3. If it's a 2000 or XP machine, have a look at the processes list in Task
Manager and search for the names of any that aren't familiar. Follow removal
instructions for anything you find.
4. If it's 98 or XP, run msconfig and check the startup list: if you don't
know what an item is, disable it (you can always turn it back on later). If
you're feeling geeky or you're running 2000, regedit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >
SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Run and check through
there instead.
5. Update AV signatures and scan system. Check for spyware as well. Run
disinfection tools from places like Sophos or Symantec if you find anything
really nasty.
6. Run a registry cleanup. Norton Utilities does this, there are standalone
tools as well but I don't have any recommendations.
7. Set up a pop-up blocker for next time - Proxomitron is good - or, even
better, install Firefox and make it the default browser.
8. If your friend uses Outlook or Outlook Express, check that it has images
disabled, shows all mail in plain text, doesn't send read receipts, and is
operating in the IE secure zone (you could even install a freebie spam
filter like K9 if you're feeling generous).
9. Restart the PC and let it boot up fully. Check the lights on the front of
the box - is the hard drive constantly churning? Open Task Manager - is the
CPU usage graph stuck at the 30% mark? Do you have 50+ processes running?
Things like that are a bad sign. If you can't explain them, go back to step
2 :-)
10. Obtain free beer and promises never to do this agan from friend.
in a bit of a panic because I have a job interview in 30 minutes!!
Hope you stopped panicking and everything went OK...
Cheers
Jon
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