Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 1/31/2010

Question
QUESTION: I'm getting an error message several times during a computer session: "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services needs to close".
I also am unable to click on any link in a search results page without being redirected to a random site.  This happens on Bing, Google and Yahoo.
I have run Macafee, Spy Sweeper and Malwarebytes without catching anything. Can you help?

ANSWER: Here's what will almost certainly work.

1) Download either Kapersky Internet Security, which offers a free 30 day trial at http://kapersky.com, or F-Secure's Complete Internet security suite, which offers a free thirty day trial: https://store.f-secure.com/cgi-bin/dlreg/ml=EN?ID=FSISTB&desid=TRIAL

2) Disconnect from the Internet.

3) Uninstall Macafee, Spy Sweeper and Malwarebytes. This is absolutely essential because otherwise they and F-Secure or Kapersky might fight each other and might crash your computer. It isn't good enough to just turn off your old antivirus because it probably has been crippled by your virus infection.

4) Install your Internet Security product. Download any updates available.

5) Run a complete scan of your computer. Follow any instructions it might give you.

6) Reboot.

If this works, you can either keep your new Internet Security product or uninstall it and reinstall your old products from either a download of the latest version from their website (if that's how they sell it) or from the disk it was on when you bought it. Be sure to get all the latest updates right away. Usually antivirus companies are pretty good about updating their programs whenever some new attack becomes able to evade or cripple their product.

7) To prevent future infections, don't use Internet Explorer, as it is susceptible to introducing viruses, adware and spyware into your computer. Instead you could use Firefox, free from Mozilla.org . Instead of using Outlook for email, you could use Thunderbird, free from Mozilla.org, or Eudora, free from Eudora.com .


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Carolyn.  I will try this, but I have a couple more questions.  I've read some of your other posts, and you have recommended Google Chrome instead of IE or Firefox.  Do you still recommend Google Chrome or does it have problems of its own?  Web pages do seem to load faster with Google Chrome.
I have PC Tools Registry Mechanic, should that be uninstalled as well, before downloading another security suite?
There is also Windows Defender, which I've never paid much attention to, but runs automatically.
Thank you.
Christine

Answer
The biggest advantage of Chrome is that the program is much more simple than Firefox has become. The more features a program has, the more ways there are for it to crash or allow malware to attack it.

I see no problem with Registry Mechanic or Windows Defender. However, please let me know if you encounter problems in leaving them both active while you install a new security suite.