Ah, fantastic - YES will create Windiws repair disk. Anything for peace of mind!
My question about backing up wasn't to do with the virus, actually - I meant the method. Simply using Windiws Backup is OK? I was unsure, and earlier post said it wasn't good.
Am I now being too cheeky with questions, time for me to shut up? Thank you so much, again, for your help, and your patience.
There are Windows backup and there is others like online that you will have to pay a monthly fee . Windows backup should be fine . Hopefully you are backing up to an external not an internal device.
Sorry, but I have to disagree with Vista King. The Windows backup facilities have been historically very flaky. For data backup I recommend a simple Copy/Paste action or use this (link below). Then you know at least what you have done and don't look into a black box.
Context Menu - Add Copy To Folder and Move To Folder
For system backup I suggest the free Macrium inmaging program. Here is a tutorial I made:
Imaging with free Macrium
If you're going to use Chrome, look at the settings and be careful about 'bundled' toolbars that will redirect your browser.
Click the 3 horizontal lines in the right corner icon on browser toolbar
Select Settings:
1. Select Basics ->Manage Search engines
2. Remove unnecessary search engines from list
3. Go back to settings. On Startup choose open blank page ( you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
Thank you, I will. Toolbars can be problematic, I'm learning?
Am I misunderstanding, or is Chrome not necessarily recommended? I prefer it just from habit, and it's simplicity - but I'm finding I'm incredibly nervous that this is all going to happen again (and the Redirect Virus, last time, only affected Chrome - my other browsers were OK). I don't think I can face a 3rd virus to be honest, I'll do whatever is recommended to best protect myself.
And thank you, all of you. So grateful for the forum.
Sarah ,
Think this way just cause it happened in Chrome doesn't mean it won't happen on IE or Firefox . Yes you don't need toolbars .
Sarah, the problem as VistaKing explained is that you can pick this up off any browser. I've been using Chrome for a while now and have never had problems. The basic rule is be ultra-cautious about what you click and what you install.
I would also suggest you consider imaging your system once you have it where you want it in a clean state - this is probably the best thing you can do from a protection standpoint. I use the free version of Macrium Reflect for that:
Imaging with free Macrium
If you don't want to physically install the software, you can run it from a standalone USB thumbdrive. All you need is the WinPE version - you can create it from an installed version of Macrium, but it requires a very large download. Alternatively, you can use this version I created which saves you the trouble of creating it (write it to USB to create and restore images):
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6gV...it?usp=sharing
Regards,
Golden
SarahCali,
In one of the reports you provided, there were some Java entries.
It is subject to vulnerabilities, and malware capitalizes on that.
To check where you stand in that area, please download Security Check:
http://screen317.spywareinfoforum.org/SecurityCheck.exe
Save to the Desktop.
Double-click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions (on the black screen).
When done, a Notepad document opens automatically: checkup.txt
Please post the contents of checkup.txt in your reply.
Yessir (that's an awesome dog, btw!), run and file attached
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