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Emergency Response Procedures
The WinHaven Security Team has
compiled these procedures for you to follow in case of emergency
situations, such as:
- Your Windows computer is acting strange and you
can't seem to do anything without it displaying
error screen or crashing.
- Your computer does not start up properly.
- You can no longer browse the Internet the way you
want because your browser displays pages you don't
want to see.
- You have strange or disturbing messages
displaying on your computer.
If you are fairly confident in your computer
ability you may attempt to resolve the problems by following these
steps:
- Create a new folder on your C: drive and
download the following programs into that folder
(If you cannot perform these steps on your own
computer go to another computer and download
them to a USB flash device or burn them to a
CD.)
- Download Vipre, a complete, proactive
anti-virus/anti-spyware product by Sunbelt
software. Vipre is very effective at
preventing malicious software from
installing itself on your computer. It is
also very effective at removing pre-existing
malicious software from your computer. Vipre
will operate in "Trial Mode" for two weeks.
Unlike most products, Vipre's "Trial Mode"
is fully functional. In other terms - it
works exactly as if you had purchased it
already. After two weeks you must purchase
it. We suggest you purchase it immediately
after your computer is working properly again.
(For more information on Vipre
click here.)
- Download MalwareBytes. This version of
MalwareBytes is free and very
effective at removing pre-existing malicious
software from your computer. Click [Download
Now] and then on the next page [Download
Now] again. If the download does not start,
click the hyperlink on that page, in the
sentence: "Your download will begin in a
moment. If it doesn't,
click here
to try again." (The file that should be
downloading is named "mbam-setup.exe" if
it's anything else, then cancel and start
over.)
- Download the MalwareBytes
here
- If you previously had
another security product installed such
as Norton or McAfee, uninstall it using the
Windows Add/Remove programs feature in the
Control panel. Sometimes these programs
don't uninstall themselves very well. If
they appear to still be installed please run
a special "Removal Tool" found on their own
website. Some of these are listed here:
- Symantec's "Norton" security products
Removal Tool.
(If you don't know which version you had
installed, choose the latest version
listed.)
- McAfee's
Consumer Product Removal
Procedure.
- Download a Firewall
- Download
Sunbelt Personal Firewall
free 30-day trial.
It is also a very effective Firewall for
your computer. Sunbelt Personal Firewall
will operate in "Trial Mode" for thirty
days. Unlike most products, Sunbelt
Personal Firewall's "Trial Mode" is
fully functional. In other terms - it
works exactly as if you had purchased it
already. It is a very good firewall for a small price
if you decide to pay for it. After 30 days it
operates in free mode which is also very
good. (This product was previously known as
"Kerio Personal Firewall".)
(For more information on Sunbelt
Personal Firewall
click here.)
- Install and run the following programs
- Install MalwareBytes
- Update MalwareBytes if possible
- Run a "Full Scan" immediately.
- When the scan is complete it will
suggest removing or quarantining certain
files.
- Review the findings and remove
anything that you do not know about. If
MalwareBytes prompts you to restart the
computer, then do so.
- Install and configure Vipre
- Choose yes for everything except the
last item which shows you a demo. (You
can view that later when your computer
works better.)
- Run Vipre
- Update Vipre if possible
- Run a full "Deep Scan" of your computer
(this will take some time).
- When the scan is complete it will
suggest removing or quarantining certain
files.
- Review the findings and remove
anything that you do not know about. If
Vipre prompts you to restart the
computer, then do so.
- Vipre will run all the time,
thereby helping to prevent infection. It is recommended that you
schedule a weekly "Deep Scan" and a
daily "Quick Scan".
- Install and configure the Sunbelt
Personal Firewall
- Install using the preset "Automatic
Settings"
- Once your computer is running properly you
may:
- Uninstall MalwareBytes using the Add/Remove
feature of Windows Control Panel.
- You may also want to clean leftover,
unneeded
files from your computer. We recommend
CCleaner,
a free system optimization and privacy tool. Pay
attention when you install this (or any)
software. If it has an option to install a
Yahoo, Google or MSN Toolbar and you don't want
one of those then uncheck the option to include
it.
- The Cleaner function is straight forward -
just click [Run Cleaner].
- The Registry Cleaner is a bit more
complicated. At the present time we recommend
that you do not clean "Missing Shared DLL" items
for .Net entries and We strongly
recommend that you take CCleaner's advice and
create a backup file prior to fixing any
registry issues - each time you run it. You
should continue to run the Registry Cleaner
until it finds no problems.
- Never Uninstall a program unless you know
what it is. If you think you should uninstall
something and you don't know what it is please
ask us first. Do not [Rename] or [Delete] the
programs listed under "Uninstall".
- Do not [Delete] Startup items.
- Do not [Disable] Startup items unless you
know what they are and don't want them running
every time you start your computer.
- We recommend running the Secunia
free
Online Software Inspector. It will scan your
computer for programs that need security updates and
present valid link to help you patch them. Secunia
currently offers a free Personal Inspector that
you can download and install on your PC. We will
continue to test this option but currently do
not recommend it.
If these procedures have not resolved your
problems you need to seek the aid of a technical
professional. Feel free to contact us. We
guarantee quality service and our rates are very
competitive.
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