Re: Windows Security Center damaged

Thanks Gary.

I'm not at my home pc right now, so please bear with my generalities as I
don't remember the exact wording of everything.

I have Windows XP, SP2. In the Security Center (from Control Panel), there
are various options you can select to take different actions. The last
option is used to change the way it alerts/notifies you of problems. That
option is grayed-out. It does not do anything when clicked. The other
options are still functional. So, I'm sure that some malware caused that
option to become non-functional, but I think that I have removed that malware
at this point because I don't get the annoying pop-ups from the systray about
being infected anymore. The red X is gone. However, the option is still
non-functional in the Security Center GUI.

My question is how do I make that option functional again? Do you think I
need to uninstall and re-install SP2?

If there is not a setting buried somewhere in the registery, then it may be
that application itself was hacked. Would you agree with that? If not, what
do you think happened?

BTW, I've already spent $110 on Norton and NoAdware. If these other programs
are similarly priced, then I would sooner buy a new pc.

Do you think one needs to have all of these tools installed and running, no
matter what? It looks like you recommend having 5 to 6 tools, and you didn't
even list a firewall, so that's another one.

Thanks again.

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:


"JMZ" <JMZ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:CAD0E5B5-FF63-4224-88A1-436B168C450C@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks for the reply.

No. The popups do not appear anymore and the red X is gone from the
systray, but the option in Windows Security Center to change the it
notifies
me is still grayed-out. Do you think it is still infected or do you think
that a malware app I removed already made a change but the removal doesn't
necessarily fix that?

I don't understand what it is you're seeing in Security Center. Could you
explain that again? Use as much detail as you can to describe to me what you
see. In Mine, I see "Security Essentials" and entries for Firewall,
Automatic Updates and Virus Protection. I don't see anything resembling whtr
I think you're describing.

Do I need more tools than Norton Int Sec 2007 and NoAdware 4.0?

Yes. First, I'd not use Norton at all. Norton is a dumb 800 lb gorrilla
sitting on top of your system, providing OK protection but interfering with
the system on a continuous basis. Causes a lot of problems. McAfee is only
slightly better. Use something else like:

ETrust -- http://my-etrust.com/microsoft
Avast! -- http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
AVG -- http://www.grisoft.com

Next, I'd use AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy (scanners that look for
malware) and for protection use SpywareBlaster and HOSTS MAnager.

AdAware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S&D -- http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download
SpywareBlaster -- http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
HOSTS Manager -- http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

If you suspect an infestation is already present, after runnign all that
stuff, then you'll want to run HiJackThis and possibly som eothers. HJT
requires an expert to interpret the results. DO NOT use HJT to "Fix"
anything until you're told to do so by an expert. See
www.aumha.org/a/quickfix for more instruction. See, also, the Security link
in my sig. (And note that the Clean Boot operations I recommend are for
Win98/98SE only. There are similar procedures for WinXP, but I don't get
into those. Usually aren't necessary for WinXP, just use Safe Mode instead.

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm




"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

What you are seeing is almost certainly a malware app. Have you followed
through and actually downloaded anything?

See the Security link in my sig, and also http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

--

Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm

"JMZ" <JMZ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:14829952-10E1-4622-896C-F3B87049EFAA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I use Norton Internet Security 2007 and NoAdware 4.0. My system is (I
think)
clean. However, I did have a problem with the nagging security center
pop-ups until I had everything cleaned up. The pop-up is gone, but
probably
only because the malware tha caused it is now gone. The pop-up said my
computer was infected and I should click here to install software to
clean
it. When I open Security Center to change the way it notifies me, that
option is disabled.

How do I gain full control of WSC again (i.e. get this option enabled
again)?

Do I need to uninstall and reinstall SP2?

Thanks in advance.






.

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