Expert: James Filmer - 10/9/2010

Question
QUESTION: I am now on my third second hand laptop which has a trojan or virus or spyware that no security system cannot find and am getting pretty upset about the fact that the previous owners watched alot of porn. what is it about those sites that simply get into a computer and nothing one can do will correct the problem? what is so special about porn sites and what they leave behind?

I know my computer is infected because of all the recent ' windows explorer has stopped working - tab recovered ' stopagges.

ANSWER: Dear Peter,

I need to know your system, what Firewall and real-time scanning anti-virus, and anti-spyware applications you're using, whether your system has the latest Windows security updates downloaded and installed through IE, and what browser you usually use.

Thanks.

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

QUESTION: system : windows vista home premium / rreal time scanning anti-virus : telus security ( ISP - telus ) / anti-spyware applications - spybot search and destroy / security updates - all seem to be up to date however, a windows security update for microsoft NET framework 3.5.1. and windows 7x86 failed on 10/7/21. usually use IE.

Answer
Emisoft Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes
SuperAntispyware
Windows Defender
(Links on enrgy21.com)
There are others too (Ask Leo and help sites on enrgy21.com/tools have more info.

Read reputable reviews, pick one, install (default - no addons, toolbars, no home page change...), update and run a full system scan using one (2 is OK too). Might turn off System Restore, but if don't back up your system, probably OK to leave it on.

Not sure if all are compatible with Telus, so make sure you uninstall it if things don't run smoothly), reboot, clean temp files (hopefully you have a temp cleaner). Then try another.

And, dont' install any that comes with a Firewall or anti-virus.

Most important, Windows security updates successfully installed. Let me know if you are (or aren't) able to install most recent Windows updates after anti-spyware scan and remove.