Expert: Brian Benosky - 3/16/2011

Question
Hi Brian,
I have a Dell windows Vista, using windows 7.  Recently my CA security system was updated by my cable company with the assistance of their technician.
I started to see the update icon requesting that I keep updating the same “New Updates”. I do this and then restart my computer, however the icon reappears.  
I called the cable company again and the technician came on board and told me it was a problem with Dell.  I called Dell (BTW, will never buy a Dell again) and was told that they would be happy to assist me for a charge since my warranty ran out.
This is the second Dell P.C. which is only about 6 months old.  The first one I purchased was defective and after many attempts to repair it, they sent me a new one.
Can you help me with this problem.
Thanks,
Carol

Answer
Hi Carol

I need to discern exactly which program is trying to update, then we can attempt to correct the problem.  I cannot understand why the cable tech would not troubleshoot if the CA program they installed is not updating.  Maybe the update notification is for another program?  
Let me see a HijackThis! log to check what programs are running and if there is any malware involved.  Please download HijackThis! to your desktop from here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/hijackthis/HiJackThis.msi
Make sure you close EVERY open window and ALL browser windows. The only thing that should be open is the HijackThis program.
Double-click on the file you just downloaded.
Click on the icon to install the program.
Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.
Click on the Scan button, then when the scan completes, click the Save Log button.
Copy the text file which opens in Notepad and paste it in your follow-up to me.
   * Do not fix any entries in HijackThis, as they may be harmless.

Brian