Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 3:44:32 PM, on 1/30/2011
Platform: Windows 7 (WinNT 6.00.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16700)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\SSScheduler.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Roxio\Roxio Burn\RoxioBurnLauncher.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Webcam\Dell Webcam Central\WebcamDell2.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Users\Anya Harris\Downloads\HijackThis.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\DllHost.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://g.msn.com/USCON/1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.dogpile.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe
O2 - BHO: &Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee Phishing Filter - {27B4851A-3207-45A2-B947-BE8AFE6163AB} - c:\progra~1\mcafee\msk\mskapbho.dll
O2 - BHO: Search Helper - {6EBF7485-159F-4bff-A14F-B9E3AAC4465B} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Search Enhancement Pack\Search Helper\SEPsearchhelperie.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\McAfee\SystemCore\ScriptSn.20101105232319.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee SiteAdvisor BHO - {B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF} - c:\progra~2\mcafee\sitead~1\mcieplg.dll
O2 - BHO: Bing Bar BHO - {d2ce3e00-f94a-4740-988e-03dc2f38c34f} - C:\Program Files (x86)\MSN Toolbar\Platform\6.3.2322.0\npwinext.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: SingleInstance Class - {FDAD4DA1-61A2-4FD8-9C17-86F7AC245081} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\YTSingleInstance.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\yt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: @C:\Program Files (x86)\MSN Toolbar\Platform\6.3.2322.0\npwinext.dll,-100 - {8dcb7100-df86-4384-8842-8fa844297b3f} - C:\Program Files (x86)\MSN Toolbar\Platform\6.3.2322.0\npwinext.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor Toolbar - {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064} - c:\progra~2\mcafee\sitead~1\mcieplg.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "c:\Program Files (x86)\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVDDXSrv] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell DataSafe Online] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe" /m
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Desktop Disc Tool] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Roxio\Roxio Burn\RoxioBurnLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell Webcam Central] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Webcam\Dell Webcam Central\WebcamDell2.exe" /mode2
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DellSupportCenter] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Support Center\bin\sprtcmd.exe" /P DellSupportCenter
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AppleSyncNotifier] C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleSyncNotifier.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcui_exe] "C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe" /runkey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - .DEFAULT User Startup: Dell Dock First Run.lnk = C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DellDock.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: Dell Dock.lnk = C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DellDock.exe
O4 - Global Startup: McAfee Security Scan Plus.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~2\MIF5BA~1\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: @C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WindowsLiveWriterShortcuts.dll,-1004 - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WindowsLiveWriterShortcuts.dll,-1003 - {219C3416-8CB2-491a-A3C7-D9FCDDC9D600} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Writer\WriterBrowserExtension.dll
O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MIF5BA~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - {2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49} - C:\PROGRA~2\MIF5BA~1\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~2\MIF5BA~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/Me ... b56907.cab
O18 - Protocol: cozi - {5356518D-FE9C-4E08-9C1F-1E872ECD367F} - c:\Program Files (x86)\Cozi Express\CoziProtocolHandler.dll
O18 - Protocol: dssrequest - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} - c:\progra~2\mcafee\sitead~1\mcieplg.dll
O18 - Protocol: sacore - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} - c:\progra~2\mcafee\sitead~1\mcieplg.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~2\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: wlpg - {E43EF6CD-A37A-4A9B-9E6F-83F89B8E6324} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\AlbumDownloadProtocolHandler.dll
O23 - Service: Andrea RT Filters Service (AERTFilters) - Andrea Electronics Corporation - C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA\AERTSr64.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: AMD External Events Utility - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\atiesrxx.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Dock Login Service (DockLoginService) - Stardock Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dell\DellDock\DockLogin.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: GameConsoleService - WildTangent, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\WildTangent\Dell Games\Dell Game Console\GameConsoleService.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee SiteAdvisor Service - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Security Scan Component Host Service (McComponentHostService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\McAfee Security Scan\2.0.181\McCHSvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (McMPFSvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee VirusScan Announcer (McNaiAnn) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\VirusScan\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: McShield - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\SystemCore\\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Firewall Core Service (mfefire) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\SystemCore\\mfefire.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Validation Trust Protection Service (mfevtp) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\SystemCore\mfevtps.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Anti-Spam Service (MSK80Service) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\McAfee\McSvcHost\McSvHost.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Wireless WLAN Card\WLTRYSVC.EXE
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)
--
End of file - 12874 bytes
Hijack This Analysis
Moderator: Thanas
-
- Pathetic Attention Whore
- Posts: 5470
- Joined: 2003-02-17 12:04pm
- Location: Bat Country!
Hijack This Analysis
My older sister wanted me to make sure that her computer was clean. I couldn't find anything wrong in this log file but it's been a while since I've used H.T. . Anyone wanna make sure I didn't miss anything major?
Re: Hijack This Analysis
She's got a lot of what looks like toolbars like Yahoo Toolbar and Bing Bar and the like, which are unnecessary bloatware and potential ad vectors. Those should be uninstalled unless she can explain why and when she added them on purpose to her browser (probably Yahoo came from autopackaging with the 'yes I want this' default checked on Java or something, for example)
Assuming she uses Firefox or any other non-IE browser, a complete wipe after exporting and saving her bookmarks and settings might be useful, if you know what you're doing, because that can easily scrub any plugins and other 'helpful' things you don't want and build up what add-ons and plugins you need logically rather than ad-hoc over time.
Don't know enough about Hijack This to actually tell if there's anything not legit there besides those BHOs.
"O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell DataSafe Online] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe" /m
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Desktop Disc Tool] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Roxio\Roxio Burn\RoxioBurnLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell Webcam Central] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Webcam\Dell Webcam Central\WebcamDell2.exe" /mode2"
She's using a laptop, right, with stuff like this? Most of the prepackaged shit is completely unnecessary. Go through add and remove programs or whatnot and scroll down all the stuff added really early. It doesn't actually hurt, save the autorun at the start, but it's pointless to keep things like this "DataSafe" bullshit or "RoxioBurn" if she didn't know it was there.
Disable Adobe Speed Launcher's run at startup thingie, that's pointless. If she needs to use PDFs, she can wait the extra 2 seconds it takes a modern computer to load Adobe. The extra 2 seconds of stolen CPU time being added to every start-up actually takes more time and puts more stress on startup than the effort to remove it saves.
Same with, with her permission, the auto-startup on Quicktime (obvious, as again like PDFs you don't always need it and it takes almost no time to start it cold) and perhaps ITunes if she doesn't mind. ITunes gets enough use with most people that you should ask if she wants it to be automatically starting up each time she uses her computer though.
Finally, do the standard whole 'defragment hard drives', because with many large applications (like say WoW or PDF documents or maybe Itunes or whatnot), the most significant performance hit people think is viruses is actually just fragmentation causing the hard drive to take longer to find shit. I recommend Defraggler because it's free (srsly who would pay for a defrag) and I'm lazy but hate the standard windows one. For that matter, consider 'CCleaner' from the same company, for the same price, because it'll delete a whole bunch of useless temp files and recently used documents and whatnot you probably didn't even know were filling several gigs of her hard drive (which has nothing to do with malware or speed too much but which I like to do with the permission of the someone requesting I make their computer not suck)
Also, depending upon her age and how close you are and how embarasse-y she is, either check her history or simply ask to find out how often she browses porn. Really, that's the only reason to get weird shit on your computer with proper operating protocols- strange russian malware sites disguised as video players or whatnot.
Obviously if she's below 14 this isn't as much a problem, but I assume if she's asking for help checking for malware and viruses she either isn't knowledgeable about computer safety or thinks she picked up something bad from a shady website. Also, #1 way to prevent things like this rather than end up doing damage control for siblings- teach proper 'read what you're installing, if not the EULA because fuck those' things, especially 'don't check for browser toolbars unless you actually want one' and 'if a popup window, no matter how official, says 'press OK to download this to continue' or whatever, don't do it. If it won't let you out, kill the process'.
Assuming she uses Firefox or any other non-IE browser, a complete wipe after exporting and saving her bookmarks and settings might be useful, if you know what you're doing, because that can easily scrub any plugins and other 'helpful' things you don't want and build up what add-ons and plugins you need logically rather than ad-hoc over time.
Don't know enough about Hijack This to actually tell if there's anything not legit there besides those BHOs.
"O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell DataSafe Online] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell DataSafe Online\DataSafeOnline.exe" /m
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Desktop Disc Tool] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Roxio\Roxio Burn\RoxioBurnLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell Webcam Central] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Webcam\Dell Webcam Central\WebcamDell2.exe" /mode2"
She's using a laptop, right, with stuff like this? Most of the prepackaged shit is completely unnecessary. Go through add and remove programs or whatnot and scroll down all the stuff added really early. It doesn't actually hurt, save the autorun at the start, but it's pointless to keep things like this "DataSafe" bullshit or "RoxioBurn" if she didn't know it was there.
Disable Adobe Speed Launcher's run at startup thingie, that's pointless. If she needs to use PDFs, she can wait the extra 2 seconds it takes a modern computer to load Adobe. The extra 2 seconds of stolen CPU time being added to every start-up actually takes more time and puts more stress on startup than the effort to remove it saves.
Same with, with her permission, the auto-startup on Quicktime (obvious, as again like PDFs you don't always need it and it takes almost no time to start it cold) and perhaps ITunes if she doesn't mind. ITunes gets enough use with most people that you should ask if she wants it to be automatically starting up each time she uses her computer though.
Finally, do the standard whole 'defragment hard drives', because with many large applications (like say WoW or PDF documents or maybe Itunes or whatnot), the most significant performance hit people think is viruses is actually just fragmentation causing the hard drive to take longer to find shit. I recommend Defraggler because it's free (srsly who would pay for a defrag) and I'm lazy but hate the standard windows one. For that matter, consider 'CCleaner' from the same company, for the same price, because it'll delete a whole bunch of useless temp files and recently used documents and whatnot you probably didn't even know were filling several gigs of her hard drive (which has nothing to do with malware or speed too much but which I like to do with the permission of the someone requesting I make their computer not suck)
Also, depending upon her age and how close you are and how embarasse-y she is, either check her history or simply ask to find out how often she browses porn. Really, that's the only reason to get weird shit on your computer with proper operating protocols- strange russian malware sites disguised as video players or whatnot.
Obviously if she's below 14 this isn't as much a problem, but I assume if she's asking for help checking for malware and viruses she either isn't knowledgeable about computer safety or thinks she picked up something bad from a shady website. Also, #1 way to prevent things like this rather than end up doing damage control for siblings- teach proper 'read what you're installing, if not the EULA because fuck those' things, especially 'don't check for browser toolbars unless you actually want one' and 'if a popup window, no matter how official, says 'press OK to download this to continue' or whatever, don't do it. If it won't let you out, kill the process'.
Re: Hijack This Analysis
DP: oh and if she's using Firefox or Chrome without it, then install Adblock Plus as an add-on. Cutting down on banner ads and popups, especially if the user is less educated and likely to click on them, will seriously help stop annoyances and potential future malware sources alike. Consider teaching her that IE sucks if she's using IE, because useful ad-blocking is still a dream of the future for IE-users.
Some of this is likely misinformation, so wait until actual not-stupid people come to tell you what to do maybe. I keep my computer in good shape, but I'm not knowledgeable about why some of the stuff I do works or helps so some of it might be useless witchcraft I just ritually do to feel like I'm doing something.
[also in the previous post which I can no longer edit, it sounds like I suggested 'either ask her or just look yourself', when I meant 'assuming you think it's appropriate, do either, or neither'. Despite the awkwardness sometimes, it's really damn helpful because 90% of the shit people get on their computers assuming there is any is from that. Also, all this really basic stuff I outlined is probably patronising. But I figure that on the off chance she's not as computer literate, it might solve some problems that she's presumably having if she asked for help or just assist in saving space/time in a way most people don't know how to do]
Some of this is likely misinformation, so wait until actual not-stupid people come to tell you what to do maybe. I keep my computer in good shape, but I'm not knowledgeable about why some of the stuff I do works or helps so some of it might be useless witchcraft I just ritually do to feel like I'm doing something.
[also in the previous post which I can no longer edit, it sounds like I suggested 'either ask her or just look yourself', when I meant 'assuming you think it's appropriate, do either, or neither'. Despite the awkwardness sometimes, it's really damn helpful because 90% of the shit people get on their computers assuming there is any is from that. Also, all this really basic stuff I outlined is probably patronising. But I figure that on the off chance she's not as computer literate, it might solve some problems that she's presumably having if she asked for help or just assist in saving space/time in a way most people don't know how to do]
-
- Pathetic Attention Whore
- Posts: 5470
- Joined: 2003-02-17 12:04pm
- Location: Bat Country!
Re: Hijack This Analysis
Well what prompted this whole thing was her being worried that her computer had been hacked. As the most computer literate person in the family it fell to me to help her get it sorted. I'll probably advise her to get rid of the bloatware but I think she might actually be using some of it and she can be a little stubborn about that sort of thing even if clearly better alternatives are presented.