Are you currently running any anti-virus or firewall program? Even though systems come with an anti-virus program installed from Dell (on a trial basis), mine wasn't configured correctly; even disabled.

If your unsure about using programs to delete 'things' from off your system, you can still run them just to see if any 'problems' are uncovered. You can always look up these problems individually using GOOGLE, then decide what might be the best way to remove them. Some like NewDotNet if removed programatically, can 'break' your internet connection. Just to be safe, make sure you've got written down how to do a "System Restore", recover system files using "sfc" and do a "Repair" (in place) installation of your operating system before you begin. Also, i'd have a good WinSock (your internet connection) repair program downloaded and available, for your operating system, just in case.

Have you tried running AdAware SE and Spybot S&D, just to see what they turn up?

Mike.

I installed Adaware SE and ran it.  I now am down to 37 processes.  Thanks for your help, if you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Chauncey

1) Make sure your upto date with "Windows Update". You can 'bypass' the SP2 update if you want.

2) Download and run an anti-virus program, such as, AVG. It's free to download and use, and it may turn up something else; unless you already have an anti-virus program installed and running. Keep the definitions upto date.

3) Run a 3-rd party firewall, or at the very least, turn on ICF (SP1), or windows firewall (SP2).

4) Set downloading ActiveX controls and Java to "Prompt". That way, you can see when a webpage is wanting to put something onto your system.

5) Be sure to run scans at least once weekly, especially when browsing the internet for an extensive amount of time (it helps to get rid of tracking cookies).

Good luck,

Mike.

Okay first let me tell you I am computer illiterate so I don't sound like a complete idiot when I ask this question.  How do I know if I have a firewall? 

Chauncey

Chauncey,

To check for the presence of a firewall:

• Pre-SP2 systems ... "Control Panel | Network and Internet Connections | Network Connections", look for a "firewalled" status in the details displayed just under the connection icon selected (single left click); the ICF or "Internet Connection Firewall".
• SP2 systems: "Control Panel | Security Center". What is the status of the "Firewall"? If it's on, left click "Windows Firewall" and see wheter window's firewall is on or off. If it's on, then the SP2 firewall is being used, if it's off, then a 3-rd party firewall is being used. Some 3-rd party firewalls might not be detected properly by SP2.
• Try going to a website that performs security checks. A stealthed system, or blocked ports usually indicates the presence of a firewall. You can try shields up! or symantec security center; there are many other very good ones as well.
• Also, if the computer system is behind a hardware firewall or NAT router.

I hope that gives you more information.

Mike.

 

Message Edited by Midnight Star on 10-04-2004 01:40 PM

When I did the first check through the control panel my firewall is not enabled.  Should it be?  Sorry probably sounding stupid again.

Chauncey

Without knowing more about your current setup, i'd say absolutely! Try out the 'security test' links i've provided in the prior post, and see what they 'turn' up.

You can also look in your "Add/Remove" program entries for any installed firewall services, like "ZoneAlarm","Norton's Firewall", "Norton's Internet Security", "Sygate", etc.,. If those entries aren't there, and the windows ICF or SP2 firewall isn't active/selected, then the answer is yes, you need to turn ICF on. It's not the best, but it's better than nothing.

If an advanced hacker wanted to get into a system, knowing unreleased security flaws in a large majority of popular software products, I really doubt most anything would deter them. But things like firewalls will deter most of them.

Mike.

 

Actually I do have Norton internet Security, but the firewall was not turned on.

Chauncey

My laptop was shipped with Norton's Anti-virus, but it wasn't enabled; I was expecting it to be enabled.

I've just installed NIS 2004 Pro, on my desktop as a reference, and was surprised when I turned the firewall off, that a red 'x' wasn't placed on the 'planet' icon in the task bar to let me know the firewall was down. What's even more interesting is when installing NIS, the installation caught the fact that SP2 was installed and recommended that I disable all notification from windows reguarding firewall and anti-virus protection.

Now, when I re-enabled this reporting feature within windows, I was immediately notified via a taskbar pop-up, that the firewall was down.

Strange that Norton's recommended that it notify me of a problem instead of windows, yet doesn't. Without the window's security center pop-up, i'd never had known that my Internet Security firewall was down.

Mike.