I am running windows XP home edition and it keeps
restarting, i also have problems with programs shutting
down, i installed ad-ware and spybot and the seemed to
have helped the program problem but I am still getting
the shutdown problem can anyone help me please
Tommo,
The shutdown problem sounds like Blaster or one of its variants.
When the next shutdown starts:
Start - Run, type "shutdown -a", and hit Enter.
This should halt the reboot. Now fix the problem.
Immediately turn-on Windows XP's built-in Firewall:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
And about the Welchia worm:
<
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.welchia.worm.html>
Download and install Security patch KB824146, available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=824146#WinXP
Download and run the Blaster and Welchia worm removal tool (Windows 2K/XP):
<
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=833330>
Now check deeper for spyware.
Start by downloading LSP-Fix from <
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>, and
CWShredder from <
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>.
First, run CWShredder.
Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> in addition to AdAware and
Spybot.
1) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
Log.
2) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<
http://63.247.79.145/~coyote/forums/index.php?act=idx>
<
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php?board=17>
<
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?s=8a1e9d7c1978cff54ca06a3210c7c1b0&showforum=32>
<
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?s=68ddc23721b063d5411ece09e5ac93f9&showforum=11>
If removal of any of the spyware affects your ability to access the internet
(some spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may
damage your network), run LSP-Fix.
Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/
Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
