Webuser Forums: search-daily is over riding google

Now that you are clean,and If you wish to do so, here are a few things that you can do that will help keep your computer a bit more clean and secure..they can be done at your leisure.

Download and scan with CCleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com/downloadbuilds.asp

1. Starting with v1.27.260, http://www.ccleaner.com/downloadbuilds.asp installs the Yahoo Toolbar as an option which IS checkmarked by default during the installation. IF you do NOT want it, REMOVE the checkmark when provided with the option OR download the toolbar-free Basic or Slim versions instead of the Standard Build.

2. Before first use, select Options > Advanced and UNCHECK "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours"

3. Then select the items you wish to clean up.

In the Windows Tab:
• Clean all entries in the "Internet Explorer" section except Cookies.
• Clean all the entries in the "Windows Explorer" section.
• Clean all entries in the "System" section.
• Clean all entries in the "Advanced" section.
• Clean any others that you choose.

In the Applications Tab:
• Clean all except cookies in the Firefox/Mozilla section if you use it.
• Clean all in the Opera section if you use it.
• Clean Sun Java in the Internet Section.
• Clean any others that you choose.

4. Click the "Run Cleaner" button.
5. A pop up box will appear advising this process will permanently delete files from your system.
6. Click "OK" and it will scan and clean your system.
7. Click "exit" when done.
__________________

=========================================

Is your Java is out of date. Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system. Please follow these steps to remove older version Java components and update to the latest version if required.

Updating Java:

Download the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6u4 (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp).
Scroll down to where it says
The J2SE Runtime Environment (JRE) allows end-users to run Java applications.

Click the
Download
button to the right.
Check the box that says:
Accept License Agreement.

The page will refresh.
Click on the link to download Windows Offline Installation with or without Multi-language and save to your desktop.
Close any programs you may have running - especially your web browser.
Go to Start > Control Panel double-click on Add/Remove programs and remove all older versions of Java.
Check any item with Java Runtime Environment (JRE or J2SE) in the name.
Click the Remove or Change/Remove button.
Repeat as many times as necessary to remove each Java versions.
Reboot your computer once all Java components are removed.
Then from your desktop double-click on jre-6u2-windows-i586-p.exe to install the newest version.

UPDATING WINDOWS AND INTERNET EXPLORER

IMPORTANT: You Need to Update Windows and Internet Explorer to protect your computer from the malware that is around on the Internet. Please go to the windows update site (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/) to get the critical updates.

If you are running Microsoft Office, or any portion thereof, go to the Microsoft's Office Update site and make sure you have at least all the critical updates installed (Free) Microsoft Office Update.

Make your Internet Explorer more secure

This can be done by following these simple instructions:
From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.
Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.

========================================================

The following are recommended third party programs that are designed to keep your computer clean. A link as well as a brief description is included with each item.

Download SpywareBlaster
Spyware blaster is a program that stops known malicious activex controls from installing on your computer. It works by changing settings in your registry. It makes
kill bits in the registry, so that certain activex controls can't install.
If you don't know what activex controls are, see here (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/ActiveX_control.html)
You can download SpywareBlaster here here (http://majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=2859&file=11&evp=61b0e8ad41924a03c37615f4682b4cef)
SpywareBlaster tutorial (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial49.html)

Download iespyad
It puts many bad webpages on your restricted zones list. This means that you can still view the bad webpages, but the webpages cannot do certain things (such as use javascripts and cookies).

Download it here (http://www.spywarewarrior.com/uiuc/res/ie-spyad.exe)

Hosts file:
Every version of windows has a hosts file as part of them. In a very basic sense, they are used to locate webpages. We can customize a hosts file so that it blocks certain webpages. However, it can slow down certain computers. This is why using a hosts file is optional!!
Download it here (http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm). Make sure you read the instructions on how to install the hosts file. There is a good tutorial here (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial51.html)
If you decide to download the hosts file, the slowdown problems can usually be avoided by following these steps:
Click the start button (at the lower left hand corner of your screen) Click run In the dialog box, type services.msc hit enter, then locate dns client Highlight it, then double-click it. On the dropdown box, change the setting from automatic to manual. Click ok

Keep Anti Virus Software updated - Most AVs will update automatically, but if not I would recommend making updating the AV the first job every time the PC is connected to the internet. An AV that is using defs that are seven days old is not going to be much protection. If you do not update your anti virus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out. See here (http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwvirus.html) to choose one.

Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. For more info, check this (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/tutorial60.html) webpage out.
Here (http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwfirewall.html) are some Vista compatible firewalls also.

Know What You're Installing
Check the source.
To avoid malware, make sure your software comes from a reputable source. Be particularly suspicious of sponsored software (software that relies on advertising) or software that claims to speed up your Internet connection.

Use Custom Install.
If you feel comfortable with software installation, you can choose Custom Install (as opposed to Typical Install). Custom Install allows you to select only the software components you wish to install, and leave out others (such as potential spyware).

Modify Security Settings (Internet Explorer 6)
To reduce the risk of installing malware, you can set Internet Explorer to high security mode. To do so:

Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools > Internet Options….
On the Internet Options screen, select the Security tab, then select the Internet icon (if it is not already selected).
Under Security level for this zone, click Default Level. Set the slider to High.
Note: You may have to lower the security level to view certain Web sites.
Next, select the Trusted Sites icon. Under Security level for this zone, click Default Level. Set the slider to Medium.
Click Apply, then OK to save the changes.

Before using or purchasing any Spyware/Malware protection/removal program, always check the Rogue/Suspect Spyware List. It will save you a lot of grief, as well as money if you are thinking of purchasing. Here is the link:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
If you want to know just how effective your anti-spyware program is, or how well any of the "rogue" programs listed at the above link work, check this for an independent comparison of several anti-spyware programs:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/asw-test-guide.htm

Let us know if we have not resolved your problem. Otherwise, you are good to go.
Happy and Safe Surfing!

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

Post Extras