Ducktoes Spyware Blog

Windows works best and is most secure when Automatic Updates are turned on, so the most recent updates from Microsoft are installed regularly.

To turn on the updates, open your Internet Explorer (Blue “e”) and then go to Tools on the menu bar at the top, next to Favorites. On the Tools drop-down menu you’ll find Windows Update. (If, as is sometimes the case with Internet Explorer 7 , the menu bar is not visible, go to the Tools (with the small picture of a grey gear by it) on the far right of the browser, just about the open browser window. Click on Tools. On the drop-down menu, click the words “Menu Bar” so a check mark appears next to the words. Now your menu bar should be visible back at the top left.)

When you click the Tools on the menu bar, a drop-down menu appears. Click on the words “Windows Update.” The Microsoft Windows Update webpage will open. If your Windows Updates are turned off, you’ll see a red shield and the warning “Help protect you PC.” Underneath you’ll find a button that says “Turn on Automatic Updates.” Click it. A new smaller window will open. Select the time when you want your computer to download the updates. Mine is set for “Everyday” at 12 p.m. Click “Okay.”

If you’d like to install the Updates right away, go back to the Windows Update website and click, “Express Updates.” Follow the instructions that Microsoft gives you.
If you have any questions please e-mail me. Or if you have any comments please click “Comments” below.

Get your webfeet wet with Ducktoes!

This week I’m fixing an old Toshiba laptop that was loaded with spyware. It had all these spyware:

1. Adware BHO Generic
2. Win32 Trojan PSW Sinowal
3. Win32 clowsd
4. Alexa Related
5. Microsoft Windows Security Center Virus Override
6. Microsoft Windows Security Center Firewall Override
7. Microsoft Windows Security Center SP2 Update Override
8. Microsoft Security Center _disabled
9. PWS LDPinch IE
10. SC Keylogger
11. Smitfraud - C.generic
12. Win32. Alphabet.ap
13. Win32. BHO.je

The laptop actually had more than this but I didn’t write them down before I got rid of them. I used these three anti-spyware applications to get rid of the spyware: Ad-aware SE Personal, Spybot, and Spyware Doctor (my new favorite anti-spyware, although it’s not free.)

The fascinating spyware I love to hate, is one that places a program in the Startup. Everytime I tried to run AVG anti-virus, the spyware would start this:

HKLM\…\Run:[KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k

And immediately a system dump would begin with a blue screen of death and, I’d have to restart the computer without being able to run a virus scan.

The client and I decided to reinstall the operating system since she didn’t need anything on her harddrive. It’s an old laptop she uses for e-mail only. But normally I would have run all my anti-spyware tools, anti-virus (I prefer AVG), plus rootkit tools (see my rootkit post.) I like to get rid of spyware without reformatting, as most computer repair services do. They immediately reformat!!! Not Ducktoes. Ducktoes does anti-spy without data-fry!! So businesses and people can lose their spyware but keep their data. That’s what Ducktoes specializes in.

Okay, I might as well get it over with, alienate all my Linux and Mac Techie friends in one fell swoop. I know it is politically-incorrect to say this but yes, I love Microsoft. I adore Microsoft madly for its support pages which in combination with Google Search (the top-of the-line search engine) make a powerful reference for computer repair people and computer users. I have to give credit where credit’s due. Thanks, Microsoft and Google!!

Microsoft is generous to go to all the trouble and expense of creating and providing on-line support pages, and for free. I have fixed many, many repair problems by combining the two, Microsoft and Google. No one person can possibly remember all those repair solutions at once. Well maybe out there somewhere in Geekland is an Einstein-techie-with-photographic-memory who can remember a million and three complicated procedures, but it ain’t me.¬† In one week, I fixed Outlook on three clients’ computers, each time with a different solution, and each time I used my Microsoft plus Google solution-finding method. (One business man cried on my shoulder when he lost all his business contacts. Ducktoes to the rescue!!) This week, I fixed a problem with the Recovery Console. Windows firewall had been disabled on a client’s computer and, when I tried to enable it, got an error message every time. I followed Microsoft’s directions to fix it with the command prompt.

It is not politically incorrect to say I love Google, at least not yet, even though they are taking over the digital world. Perhaps because they seem to be doing it in a nice way. Google, like Windows, is becoming a way of life. (Just shun me forever, Linux and Mac people. Lol!!) I use both Adsense and Adwords and I like many features on iGoogle.

By hard work, I’ve been climbing my way to the top in Google Search results for the keywords Calgary Computer Repair, which has earned respect from some techie friends (how did you get on the first page? they always ask) although for some reason this month I went down a few results. You can see Ducktoes placement on Google by clicking here. My friend Mike Yaunish is anchored firmly at the top of Google and I don’t want to replace him. I’d just like to be second, since I get most of my jobs from Google (and word of mouth.) I’m still at the top of Google, however, for the keywords “Calgary spyware.”

Using Google is also a potent anti-spyware tool. Often, when prying out nasty spyware from deep within an OS, I resort to Google to find registry edits (not for Newbies) for the most stubborn malware. And I used Google to fix my Ibook G4 once, when I found a free utility to make all my applications show up again. They’d disappeared.

So, this is what I recommend, if you want to learn to fix your computer yourself, and especially if you’re a computer repair person, use Google plus Microsoft, for fixing Windows computers. It is cool and fun, and it works!!

After you run Disk Cleanup (see Part One), you’ll want to defragment the hard drive.

Hard drives have arms that retrieve data much like those on old phonograph players. (Some of us actually remember those!) Except instead of staying in one place as a phonograph arm and needle does as the record goes around underneath it, hard drive arms move back and forth across their round platters. When data is too scattered, the hard drive arm has to move excessively to retrieve it, therefore wearing out the hard drive prematurely. (I learned this from my friend Ken Wicker who was a computer teacher at Swainston Middle School in North Las Vegas when I was an ECS there. Ken is amazing a hardware expert!) So fragmention also slows down the computer.

Defragging puts files together saving time and wear and tear on your hard drive. Contiguous files are much easier and faster to retrieve and process.

To defrag in XP, from the Start button, go to All Programs, then to Accessories. Under Accessories you’ll find System Tools. Inside System Tools, you’ll want Disk Defragmenter.

The Disk Defragmenter window will open. You’ll be presented with a list of volumes. Select one to start with, that is, if there is more than one listed. (C:) is usually the main drive, but there also may be (D:) and (E:). Then click the button “Defragment.” Defragging a drive can take a long time, so outside and go for a walk or play with your kids or dog.

I’ve learned from my friend Zenon, of Computer Junkyard, to defragment over and over again, until–in XP–all the blue is together and the red has vanished. The red are the fragmented files. One of the unfortunate things about Vista is that you can’t see the defragmentation process happening. Here’s what Mauricio Freitas has to say about this. I know, I know, only a geek would like to watch the defragmentation process. But I find it satisfying somehow, where all the blue lines come together into a blue band, like a solution being forged from disparate ideas, or the papers in a “to be sorted box” collected into the proper folders in your filing cabinet.

Speaking of Vista, defragmentation is set to run automatically, every Wednesday, at 1 a.m., unless your computer is powered off. You can modify the settings by going to the Start button, All Programs, Accessories, and System Tools.

A browser is the software application you use to visit websites. You’re probably familiar with Internet Explorer. Yet other browsers are more effective for preventing spyware. This is partially because they’re not as popular, and the bad guy spyware creators don’t bother with them as much. Firefox and Avant are two good choices. I use Firefox but my nephew Philip swears by Avant. When I told him that I help people get rid of spyware on their computers, he was incredulous. Wouldn’t it be easier just to have them use Avant? he asked. He’s right, I have to admit. If everyone used Avant, I’d have a lot less work. Download Firefox and Avant and try them out, you may be converted!

And don’t worry, your Internet Explorer will still be on your computer, so you can always use it whenever you want.