Advice on how to clean a home machine if infection is suspected
For information from Microsft vist http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/default.mspx
Get protection software
If you don't have equivalent software already, download and install one option of the following catagories (found easily with Google):
Antivirus:
AVG Antivirus from Grisoft (http://free.avg.com/ww.download?prd=afe)
Avira Antivirus (http://www.free-av.com/)
Spyware:
Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/default.mspx)
Ad-Aware (http://www.lavasoft.com/single/trialpay.php)
Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.search-and-destroy.com/spybot.html)
NB. All of the above are free, if a site wants to charge you in anyway, your looking at the wrong version of the software
Run "check for updates" on all protection apps installed as well as Microsoft/Windows Update
Temporarily prevent further infection from outside
Unplug your internet connection lead
Remove the System restore information (sometimes Trojans and Worms hide there to re-infect)
Right-Click My Computer
Select Properties
Select System Restore Tab
Tick "Turn off system restore on all drives"
Reboot machine
Reboot for scanning
Press the F8 key on boot before the Windows logo appears, select Safe Mode.
Click 'Yes' to enter safe mode
Run full system scans for all your protection application AVG/Symantec, Spybot, Windows Defender, etc.
Make sure Windows Firewall also enabled. (Maybe disable/uninstall zone alarm)
Reboot
Back in normal mode
Once you are sure all protection apps are running in the task bar, plug in the network lead.
Visit Windows Update site (Internet Explorer – Tools – Windows update), make sure all critical updates are installed.
Run "check for updates" on all other protection apps.
Recommend download and Install Mozilla Firefox as alternative web browser
Go back to System restore options and re-enable.
