How do I prevent Adware ?

After logging off, computer sits idle & message from AVG appears:

AVG Resident Shield (red x) Trojan horse downloader, keenval.c is found in file c:\system volume information/restore (then a long string of numbers) .exe (or a similar trojan called revop.c) To remove this virus pleae run AVG for windows. Then an OK box.

Run AVG, never finds anything.

"Hotkey keyboard" box always open in system tray, only option when right click is to minimize or close.

Search comes up empty for key words.

When I run ad-aware daily it finds sometimes as many as 50 things to remove.

Zone Alarm is set on high. Security options under tools/internet options is set at either high or medium.

Otherwise all seems to be running normally.

Daughter regularly uses AIM to IM.

What is happening and how to I prevent it in the future?

Thank you.

This question was answered on May 10, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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Adware or Spyware has been uploaded onto your computer:

1 Open Internet Explorer

2 click on tools

3 click the "delete cookies" tab

4 close Internet Explorer

5 click on the "start" tab

6 click on the "run" tab

7 type in "msconfig"

8 then click the startup tab

9 go through the list of startup programs and uncheck all Adware

10 restart your computer

11 lastly, click

-my computer,

-control panel

-add/remove programs

Now you can manually remove Adware/Spyware.

Securtiy settings under Internet Explorer should be left on high, but sometimes that isn't enough protection I suggest purchasing Norton or McAffee firewalls and anti-virus softwares.

About the author

Posted by Eli of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on May 10, 2004

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