10. You should open SpywareBlaster and click on Download Latest Protection Updates.
To all my customers! There is currently a Pandemic of "Fraudware" viruses. I am getting 5 calls a day! This "Fraudware" seems to be able to penetrate any defense! It is jumping off of perfectly innocent websites. You will know something is wrong immediately because multiple popups of every kind blanket your screen. This virus "kills" any program you try to start! If you see this happen SHUT DOWN immediately! You must be prepared in advance to fight this or you have little chance of succeeding.
Please do the following two things to prevent or recover from an infection.
- Please read the "What Version Should I have?" entry in this blog. Make sure you have EVERY new version of my security software and they are up to date.
- You should take a few moments to Update Malwarebytes Anti-malware Daily! Malwareytes can kill these viruses if it gets a chance. However, once you have the virus it is too late to update Malwarebytes. The viruses are blocking it and all Internet access.
Run Malwarebytes in Safe Mode Instructions.pdf
The attached document may help you if "Fraudware" pop-ups have invaded your PC. This will only help if you have updated Malwarebytes Anti-Malware within the last two days. This document shows you how to kill the virus using Windows "Safe Mode" and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. This virus is changing the Internet "Settings" in Internet Explorer so that it can return! These instructions also guide you in resetting them.
Follow the instructions exactly, reading each line completely before doing it.
If this does not work, you should bring the PC in for cleaning. Dean Hancy PC Bits.
Keeping your PC Bits software up to date is very important! As clever new virus and spyware threats occur, your security software must evolve to counter them. This often means that a new version must be installed. This is different than a daily or monthly update. Daily or monthly updates are either automatic (AntiVir) or manual but are usually quick and simple. Installing a new version is a complicated process, has lots of steps, can involve uninstalling the old version and rebooting the PC.
NOTE! In the months of Nov. 2009 - Jan. 2010, ALL my previous customers that brought in infected PCs had not kept their Security software Versions up to date!
Often my customers find the version update confusing and have problems after the update. Here are a few points to keep in mind during an update:
- If you see an update screen/pop-up that is new to you try checking out this blog before attempting it. I may have some help for you here that will make the process easier.
- Keep in mind that ALL your software from PC Bits is FREE! Never agree to purchase anything! Often the update will try very hard to convince you to "Upgrade" to the "trial suite", or "real time" or "automatic update" or $29.99 version. You may have to look very closely for the small print that says, "continue using the free version".
If you have any doubts about what to do, call me. 763-360-2163.
Currently you should have:
Version 9.0.0.407 of AntiVir (The Red umbrella)
Version 9.1.007.002 of ZoneAlarm (Firewall) *NEW*
Version 1.6.2 of Spybot Search & Destroy
Version 4.2 of SpywareBlaster
Version 1.44 of Malwarebytes *NEW*
Version 7 of Internet Explorer (XP Only)
Version 8 of Internet Explorer (Vista and Windows 7 Only)
Version 2.28.1091 of CCleaner *NEW*
I do not use Ad-Aware any more. You should replace it with Malwarebytes.
You can find the version number for most software under the HELP menu. Look for ABOUT.
For AntiVir; RIGHT mouse click on the red umbrella down by the time and choose Start AntiVir. Then look under the HELP menu for ABOUT. There is a Version tab.
NOTE: The AntiVir pop-up that tells you to Update your Version is confusing my customers. Don't try it! Call me when you can sit in front of your PC for a while and I will talk you through it.
You can download the new version from www.filehippo.com. It will first uninstall the older version, ask if it can use the old settings (YES), ask you to reboot, then ask several questions. It's best to call.
For ZoneAlarm; RIGHT mouse click on the blue Z down by the time and choose Restore ZoneAlarm Control Center. Click on Overview, then Product Info.
Malwarebytes has an About tab.
Spybot always tells you the Version number at the top of the main screen
SpywareBlaster has the version number in the bottom left corner of the main screen
There is a new version of ZoneAlarm (your Firewall) rolling out. You may soon be reminded or prompted by ZoneAlarm (CheckPoint owns ZoneAlarm) to "Upgrade". Be very careful. Last time this happened many of my customers were confused and fooled by the "Upgrade" and installed the "Trial" version of the full ZoneAlarm Security Suite. DO NOT do this! The full Suite includes an anti-virus program and it will FIGHT with AntiVir. Your PC will lose the battle and could stop working!
Do it yourself by going to www.filehippo.com and downloading the FREE version of ZoneAlarm
9.1.007.002 from the "Firewalls and Security" group in the center of their main page.
When you click on the ZoneAlarm Free 9.1.007.002 link it will take you to the ZoneAlarm download page. Be very careful here. Look for the giant green arrow pointing down.
Click on the blue Text next to it that says, "Download Latest Version". SAVE the file to your desktop. When the file is downloaded you can close the Internet and double click on the file to run it. When you are finished installing it successfully, you can delete this file.
Make absolutely sure you DO NOT agree to install the full ZoneAlarm Security Suite! If you have any doubts, CANCEL, the upgrade.
- Keep your old settings!
- You MUST do the Custom install and UNCHECK both check boxes under it.
- Do not participate in Defense Net.
- Setup your Programs.
Note: There is one change you will notice immediately after you Reboot. ZoneAlarm will open a new window that says it found a New Network. That is your home or work network. You should "Trust" this network and give it a name, like Johnson Network, or Office Network etc.
Feb. 9th, is Update Tuesday! XP Users - you should download and install all "Update", "Critical", "Security", or "Fixes an Issue" updates.
Do Not install Internet Explorer 8 or Windows Search if you use Windows XP!!! Microsoft is still trying to sneak these in. They may be anywhere in the list of Updates.
Vista and Windows 7 Users - Go ahead and install Internet Explorer 8. You probably already have it.
- XP Users open Internet Explorer
- Look for the Tools Icon on the far right and click on it
- Choose "Windows Update"
- Click on the CUSTOM button
- Wait for it to finish thinking
- Look carefully for Internet Explorer 8 or Windows Search and UNCHECK it.
- You do not need any Optional Software or Hardware updates
- Install all "Update", "Critical", "Security", or "Fixes an Issue" updates
- Reboot your PC after all have been downloaded and installed.
I have installed 7 copies of Windows 7 since it came out Oct. 22nd and I must say that I am very happy with the results! It installs very quickly and error free.
What really impresses me is the driver support. Windows 7 seems to find every single driver for every PC I have installed it on! That never happened with XP or Vista. It seems to recognize new hardware quite nicely as well. I plugged in a 2nd monitor and it noticed it right away and configured it just the way I wanted.
Microsoft will NOT allow you to "Upgrade" to Windows 7 straight from XP. You can however "Upgrade" from Vista to Windows 7.
Microsoft will NOT allow you to upgrade from Vista to a new "Edition". You must buy the EXACT same version of Vista you currently have. For example: If you currently have Vista Home Premium, you should buy Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade.
My advice is this: if you have XP now and want Windows 7 plan on starting over fresh. Don't try doing multiple upgrades. You must also have a very powerful/large capacity PC to run Windows 7. If you already have Vista, I would upgrade to Windows 7 ASAP.
Call me before changing your Operating System if you have any concerns. 763-360-2163.
CCleaner by Piriform is the only Hard Drive and Registry cleaner that I trust. Piriform is constantly improving it, searching out more places where junk files hide and "orphan" Registry entries. About once a quarter you should check for a new version.
You can check the version by opening CCleaner and looking right next to the Icon in the top left corner.
To update:
- Go to www.filehippo.com and look for CCleaner. You will see that it is one of the most popular downloads there!
- Click on the link, then click on the text Download Latest Version next to the big green arrow.
- You may have to approve the "File Download" in the bar that appears at the top of the screen or click the tiny text that says "if not then click here".
- You can RUN the update.
CCleaner will install its update right over the old version with no problems.
PC Bits Things you must do.pdf
Here is the latest version of my "Things you must do" document.
I no longer use or recommend Ad-Aware. If you are still using Ad-Aware you should replace it with Malwarebytes Anti-malware. You can find it at www.filehippo.com.
Use the CCleaner Tools button, select Ad-Aware and click the Run Uninstaller button. Then run the Registry cleaner.
What should you do if you suspect you have a virus? First you must know your PC. What is "Normal" behavior? What is your web browser's "Home Page"? What does normal Internet traffic look/sound/feel like? How fast is the Internet? How fast do you get/send emails?
One of the first symptoms of a virus is a
"change"! The Internet is "Slow". The PC is acting "funny"! There seems to be lots of activity going on
over the Internet wires but "you" aren't doing anything. Your "Home Page" changes to some other web
site, either porn or a site that tries to sell you something. You can no longer get or send emails.
The obvious symptoms are "pop-ups". These can happen anywhere and at random times. They pop-up inside web pages, they pop-up in the system tray (down by the time/clock), they just pop-up on top of everything and they won't go away! These fraudulent pop-ups can be "official" looking warnings, or advertisements claiming that you are "infected". They FALSELY claim that they have "scanned" for viruses and found a "Trojan" or some such thing. You have Avira AntiVir Guard. Just who is claiming to have found something? You should only respond if the warning pop-up is from AntiVir!
If you suspect a virus Immediately shut down the PC. Restart the PC and immediately "Update" AntiVir. RIGHT mouse click on the Red Umbrella down by the time and click "Start Update". Next run a full scan by clicking on the desktop icon, "Scan for Viruses".
Next open Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Update it and run the Quick scan. Remove anything it finds.
Next open Spybot Search & Destroy. Update it, Immunize, then run the scan. Fix any problems it finds.
It may take several days before each of these products learns how to completely remove your infection. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
If all these scans fail or you cannot run/update AntiVir, Malwarebytes, or Spybot call me immediately at 763-360-2163.
