Lappy Loaded with Malware-Type Stuff

Looks like I've gotten into something Gramma's Lye Soap won't take off.

There are a number of "security" type apps on the Lappy that I don't recognize and have never heard anyone at TF mention.

What would be a good site to get info on them? It's been awhile since I got hold of anything like this.

PC Accellerate seems to be able to find problems, but then wants you to pay to get rid of 'em. So, it's outta here!

Search.searchwti.com seems to be a browser hijacker. Yup, gone!

And the list goes on with PUPs, Malware, Adware, etc.

I'm thinking seriously of just doing a clean install, since she's only up to 15063, has no personal files on the Lappy, and uses it mostly for entertainment. Which is why I'm considering a clean install . . .

The computer is slower than molasses in January right now. Oh, well, no wonder! PCaccelerate tells me there are 175 issues slowing down the computer . . . And, of course, they'll take 'em off for a $100 fee, according to my friend.

Whatcha think, guys and gals?

Wynona said:

Looks like I've gotten into something Gramma's Lye Soap won't take off.

There are a number of "security" type apps on the Lappy that I don't recognize and have never heard anyone at TF mention.

What would be a good site to get info on them? It's been awhile since I got hold of anything like this.

PC Accellerate seems to be able to find problems, but then wants you to pay to get rid of 'em. So, it's outta here!

Search.searchwti.com seems to be a browser hijacker. Yup, gone!

And the list goes on with PUPs, Malware, Adware, etc.

I'm thinking seriously of just doing a clean install, since she's only up to 15063, has no personal files on the Lappy, and uses it mostly for entertainment. Which is why I'm considering a clean install . . .

The computer is slower than molasses in January right now. Oh, well, no wonder! PCaccelerate tells me there are 175 issues slowing down the computer . . . And, of course, they'll take 'em off for a $100 fee, according to my friend.

Whatcha think, guys and gals?

The case as you described, Wynona, with little on the lappy, a clean install to blow all that away is certainly a whole lot safer and quicker than trying to find all the pieces, if you could. My vote, clean install! :)

f14tomcat said:

The case as you described, Wynona, with little on the lappy, a clean install to blow all that away is certainly a whole lot safer and quicker than trying to find all the pieces, if you could. My vote, clean install! :)

Thanks, TC. Thankfully, I warned her that a clean install might be in order.

Whoops! ByteFence is telling me I have 15 risks on my computer! They only want$15.95 to activate it. Oh, yeah, I'm gonna trip all over myself until I get it activated!

The only drawback to the clean install is that I can learn a lot about security, but I think in this case I may need to pass.

Edwin said:

I'm with @f14tomcat

Strip 'er down to bare metal!

Thanks, Edwin. I may just do that.

Bree said:

To satisfy your curiosity, you might want to scan with AdwCleaner before doing the clean install.

Not to repair it, I hasten to add, just to see if it holds the world record for the most Malware collected :)

Oh, I'm sure it doesn't, but it will give the title holder a run for his/her money!

Next question: Any way I can keep her from clicking on every promising CrapApp out there?

It's really a shame that these kinds of people take advantage of the less computer savvy among us.

Why not just nuke your disk(command prompt at boot and use diskpart clean all: Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command - Windows 7 Help Forums )

Then reimage your drive with an older(known malware free) image.

Wynona said:

Next question: Any way I can keep her from clicking on every promising CrapApp out there?

Next time, setup a safe DNS, preferably a family DNS (Norton/OpenDNS), it will block some of those webpages.
Use some extensions to block tracking/malware webpages as well, apply filters like malware domains/spyware.

You can allow only software with a valid certificate to prevent grandma from installing some of the junk.

Code:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "ValidateAdminCodeSignatures" /t REG_DWORD /d "1" /f