My Microsoft and Windows Security Questions

From: Canapril (Canapril_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 01/16/05 

Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 05:07:01 -0800

I've been having a lot of problems with my PC since after Christmas.
I've done everything imaginable to it, and still it Freezes up. I have
Win98, and use IE and I am only a Homeuser, I'm to the point where I need
advice from the experts.

One of the many programs I used to fix it is the free Spybot Search &
Destroy, which finds problems and repairs them.
It also finds a lot of advertising groups and it repairs them but these
advertising or problems keep coming back, each time I restart my computer.
How many times do I have to take them off my computer before they are really
off.

There are 7 that keep coming back and here are the names of them. The 7th
one is what is really puzzling me too.

1. IGetNet > Redirected Host > ieautosearch
2. Common Hijacker > Redirected Host > auto.search.msn.com
3. Advertising.com > Tracking Cookie > servedby.advertisng.com
4. Avenue A .Inc > Tracking Cookie > atdmt.com
5. CoreMetrics > Tracking Cookie > data.coremetrics.com
6. MediaPlex > Tracking Cookie
7. DSO Exploit > Data Source Object Exploit
> HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Internet
Settings/Zones/0/1004!=W=3

For this 7th one, I right clicked on the HKEY and it brings me to a prompt
to see More Detail..which brings me to Registry Editor and all these HKEYS
folders and all their sub-folders, which includes all my programs files and
all my Windows and all my Microsoft files.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKEY_CURRENT _USERS
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
HKEY_DYN_DATA
These files show all sub folders and when right clicked on a prompt where
any of these root files are they can be altered or edited or deleted. Isn't
that a little easy for someone to hack a computer?
Can they get to all my computer information? Why would they want to and why
would anyone try to keep track of where I go on the Internet or or what I
have on my computer? I truly don't have anything to hide but I find these 7
above a bit pesty and nosey for no reason whatsoever. How can I take them off
my computer once and for all?

I've run Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Nortons Utilities Integrator, Registry
Cleaner,Deleted the Temp Internet Files and Cookies too,ran Hijack This and
I'm to the point where I don't know what to leave on it and what to take off
of it anymore.

Not feeling to secure with this, are my reasons legit? Would you be?
Would someone give me some directions/advice, please?

Thank You
Canapril

Loading