The laptop has a spyware infection and security is compromised can you help please

Toxteth_OGrady

Re-install a PDF reader. I recommend this one rather than Adobe:

http://pdf-xchange-viewer.en.softonic.com/

macman

I'm sure it's fine-it's just a good habit to get into-never trust anything.
The sender may well be known to you and not be malicious, but you have no way of knowing if their system is clean or not-they may be quite unaware of any problem.

tyllwyd

So if you go back to the email with the previous month's invoice attached will that open OK? If you have any other old invoices saved onto your computer, can you open them? Are you absolutely sure the problem is with your pc, not the file itself (can someone in your office try to open the file to see if it is OK)?

For the copy of the file that you have saved, try using windows explorer to find the file (press windows button and E and go to the folder where you've saved the file), then rightclick on the file name, and see if it gives you the option to 'open with' and use Adobe Reader to open the file.

katies_mum

I have just downloaded pdf-exchange-viewer as recommended by Toxteth_OGrady and **I can read my stuff again** thank you.

macman, I have never really thought about stuff being `iffy` from senders I already know..oops!

tyllwtd I can open them all now. Now`t as strange as computers!! (only had typewriters when I was at school)

Please can you help again. My new HP slimline tower has just arrived from Amazon and I`m going to `try` and set it up on saturday.

I know I have to make the recovery discs before I do much else (a friend told me off for never doing it on my last computer) do I do these on DVD`s or CD`s
Was going to install Avast (not sure what is pre installed)
I have been reading a lot on the forum and I think I also need the following..(please can you advise yes or no or suggest something else) I`m determined to do this right.
Windows firewall
Malwarebytes
Spy bot search and destroy (never heard of this but many of you seem to rate it not sure what it does exactly)
I have Secunia PSI on the laptop as advised on Saturday do I need this on the new system?
Microsoft security essentials
Also some of you use firefox adblock no script (I`ve not used firefox much as been using IE think I`ve stuck with what I know..) but will try anything.
This could be going over the top and might take days to sort out, but would rather do it right so I can feel a bit more confident.

Many thanks

RussJK

Definitely Malwarebytes, update it and run a weekly scan. Windows Firewall is the default firewall, can check in Control Panel > Windows Firewall.

Definitely Adblock Plus, and use 'Easylist', then go to this page and look down the bottom and subscribe to Malware Domain list (important):
http://adblockplus.org/en/subscriptions

Spybot is mainly useful for the 'immunise' function, as it'll make it less likely that you'll be re-infected. There are more effective solutions for the same method, but many find it easy to just load Spybot, update it each week, and run the immunise. Don't bother with the scan though.

katies_mum

Thanks Russ JK -I seem to have been at this all afternoon - it seems like I have put on everything known to man - only just seen your posting as was scared to go onto any sites until I had everything loaded.
Havn`t heard of adblockplus should I have put this on instead of one of these..... its long and I may have put on tooooo much
Avast
Windows firewall
Malwarebytes
Ad aware
Microsoft security essentials
Spybot search and destroy

Most of them have done scans! have I made a lot of work for myself? As everyone knows I am useless at this sort of stuff but don`t ever want to go through what happened to the laptop again.

Thanks

aliEnRIK

Uninstall MICROSOFT SECURITY, as AVAST does the same job and having more than one can (And usually is) detrimental
ADAWARE is cr*p, id uninstall that too

katies_mum

Thank you aliEnRIK I`ll do that - shall I install adblockplus as was mentioned?

Do I need anything else? was looking at the icons on the laptop and there is the `Hijack this` one - do I need this? or is this only if a virus happens?

Many thanks

aliEnRIK

adblock should be fine. Leave hijack on the computer in case its ever needed

katies_mum

Havn`t installed hijack (its only on the laptop) so I`ll do that as well. Thanks

Have a good evening.

Thanks