My Norton One Button Checkup finds references to a program file
"Support.com" which I find on my operational drive. I didn't load it, but,
what does? Where does it come from? Is it essential?
You can checkout the file in question. Get Process Explorer (free) from
<
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml>. Provides way more
information than Task Manager, including what modules are called by each
process, and who distributed / wrote each.
I checked out
http://www.support.com - it looks like a legit firm. I think
you'd be wise to check for spyware, if Process Explorer doesn't help.
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> and Spybot S&D
<
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download>.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
Log.
3) 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/>
<
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>
<
http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/>
If removal of any 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/
BTW, learn to munge your email address properly, to keep yourself a bit safer.
http://www.mailmsg.com/SPAM_munging.htm
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
