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stewarts
May 20th 04, 03:06 PM
i am 66 and not computer smart
need a simple fix
can i get help please

Rick T
May 20th 04, 03:24 PM
stewarts wrote:

> i am 66 and not computer smart need a simple fix can i get help
> please

In the last two days there have been a slew of complaints about this:
apparently it's a new piece of pestware.

Until the companies that write antimalware can update their files, this
from MikeM on how to fix it..... all URLs (http...) can be cut and
pasted into your browser's Address Bar.

HTH
Rick



There have been multiple posts where users are experiencing this problem
in the last couple of days and wtoolsa.exe appears to be new malware of
some sort and could be a new form of the HuntBar parasite
(http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/HuntBar.html). It certainly doesn't
form a part of the Win Me operating system.

Boot to Safe Mode, open MSConfig (Start, Run, enter MSConfig in the box
and click OK), open the Startup tab and uncheck the entry being used to
launch wstoolsa.exe, possibly labelled something like WinTools.

Now reboot back into Normal Mode and check your system for commercial
parasites. You can also delete the entire Wintools folder which is
probably located as a sub-folder in C:\Program Files\Common Files.

This might be a good time to download yourself a copy
of the free Ad-Aware 6.0 from Lavasoft
(http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) and also SpyBot
(http://www.safer-networking.org/) and scan your system for and remove
all unwanted parasites, adware and spyware that might be hiding on your PC.

I would suggest you download and run merijn's CWShredder which targets
the CoolWebSearch parasite. CWShredder can be downloaded from
(http://www.zerosrealm.com/downloads/CWShredder.zip or
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/cwshredder.zip). Details of
the many forms of the CoolWebSearch hijacker can be found at
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html and also
http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/c/cws.asp.

If all else fails, and others have managed to fix the problem using the
above suggestions, download a copy of HijackThis from
(http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html).
Create a folder called hijackthis on C: and copy the file you downloaded
to that folder. Close as many applications as you can including all
instances of Internet Explorer and then run hijackthis.exe and post back
the log, provided that it isn't too long, to this thread, otherwise to
the HijackThis Forum at http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/ and hopefully
this will enable someone to identify the cause of your problem.
--Â?
Mike Maltby MS-MVP

siljaline
May 21st 04, 06:46 AM
"stewarts" > wrote:
> i am 66 and not computer smart
> need a simple fix
> can i get help please

There is no "simple fix" for this Spware Hijacker.
Download and run "HijackThis" - FAQ and info:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

HTH & good luck.
~Silj

--
siljaline

MS MVP - Windows (IE/OE)
________________________
Anti-Parasite Definition Updates
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=31

(Reply to group, as return address
is invalid - that we may all benefit)