Re: cOOL

From: Malke (malke_at_nospoonnotreally.com)
Date: 12/05/04


Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 05:05:54 -0800

paintpearl wrote:

> Does anyone know how to get rid of this program?It will pop up and my
> Norton 2005 anti-virus will tell me about some viruses.Any help?

You haven't given us a lot of information to work with, so do these
malware troubleshooting steps. All scans should be done in Safe Mode.
Links follow the steps.

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

-- 
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"


Relevant Pages

  • Re: XP Locks on Shutdown & Cant Run WIndows Update
    ... > often than not, those programs are malware. ... See below for HijackThis links. ... > the most recent System Restore point from the More ... Do not install driver updates from Windows Update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Dodgy Desktop!
    ... Here are malware removal steps. ... See below for HijackThis links. ... > the most recent System Restore point from the More ... Do not install driver updates from Windows Update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: windowsXPpro explorer crash
    ... > CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners. ... See below for HijackThis links. ... > the most recent System Restore point from the More ... Do not install driver updates from Windows Update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: removing infected files
    ... > Restore point and delete all but that System Restore point from the ... > Here are general malware removal steps. ... > scan with HijackThis. ... Do not install driver updates from Windows Update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: 0we1rpr.exe
    ... > CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners. ... See below for HijackThis links. ... > the most recent System Restore point from the More ... Do not install driver updates from Windows Update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)