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My PC started working slower, took time to start up and open a new window or new tab. I suspected a virus. I ran Spybot and found my PC was infected with win32.agent.nmy trojan horse. I cleared it using Spybot, used CCleaner to clear my registry and defragment. I ran Spybot again and it was all clear, no more trojan horse. But it still takes time to start up and open a new tab, what should I do now?

Check Windows Add/Remove for Bad Programs

OK - I think that we should go through your computer and make sure that all the malware is gone, even though Spybot says it is. It’s worth checking thoroughly because some infectious code is cleverly programmed to evade your virus scans and hang out in your computer. First of all, you can use Windows Add/Remove Programs to look through all the programs that are installed on your system and make sure that there is nothing dangerous or suspicious. To open Add/Remove Programs just click Start, then choose Control Panel, and then Add/Remove Programs. Here is a link to a list of dangerous programs to look for, if any of them appear delete them. You should also delete your download of CCleaner, we’ll get the latest version later.

Remove Java and JSE - Java Sun Environment - Programs

While you are in Windows Add/Remove, delete any and all installations of Java or JSE. Old versions have weaknesses and should be removed. Then you can go to the Java website and reinstall the newest version when you are finished troubleshooting your PC.

Start XP and Vista in Normal Startup

You should also set your computer to start up in normal mode while you are cleaning your system. This is important and not doing so can lead to more complications. If you are running Windows 98, ME or XP:

1. Click Start, then Run, and then type msconfig and click OK
2. Choose the General tab, then choose Normal Startup
3. Click Apply, then OK then turn your computer off and on again

If you run Vista:

1. Click Start, then type RUN in the search box and then click Enter
2. In the Run box, type msconfig and click Enter
3. Choose General, then choose Normal Startup
4. Click Apply, then OK, then reboot your computer

Empty Trash and Quarantined Files

Now empty all your trash and quarantined files. This will reduce the amount of data on your system, simplifying the scans and making the process faster and less complicated. Empty your Windows Trash - right-click the icon and choose to delete the contents. Also, if you use a Norton virus scan, empty the quarantined files and the protected recycle bins.

At this point you can download and install CCleaner, but run it with only the default options enabled to get rid of your temporary files. If you have more than one user account on Windows, you need to run the cleaner on all of them.

Make All Extensions Visible

Before you continue, you should make all file extensions visible, so that your scans have the best chance of finding everything. If you run Vista:

1. Right click Start, then choose Explore, then Organize
2. Choose Folder and Search Options, then the View tab, then Show Hidden Files and Folders
3. Click to remove the check from Hide Extensions for Known File Types AND Hide Protected Operating System Files
4. Click Yes, then Apply, then OK

If you run XP:

1. Click Start, then Explore, then Tools, then Folder Options
2. Choose the View tab, then Show Hidden Files and Folders
3. Click to remove the check from Hide Extensions for Known File Types AND Hide Protected Operating System Files
4. Click Yes, then Apply, then OK

Follow Detailed Operating System Cleaning Instructions

Now use Windows Defender, which should already be on your system, or a reputable antivirus/antispyware program to scan your system one more time. Run a complete system scan. Sometimes, using a second anti-malware program catches malware that the first application did not catch.

I’m dual booting Vista and Windows 7. How do I get Windows 7 to see my Vista programs?

File and Program Access on a Dual Boot Computer - Vista and Windows 7

The short answer - I’m afraid you can’t. When you are running a dual boot operating system the two are on different partitions and are unaware of each other. What this means is that when you boot up your Windows 7 installation, it has no idea that the Windows Vista operating system and environment is even there. Your data files will be accessible, as they share the same access, but programs and applications will need to be installed on Windows 7. There are some applications that you can try to load on a third partition and switch back and forth between operating system, setting the program up predominantly on one or the other, but you will encounter conflicts between the different operating systems.

Upgrade to Import Programs

If you decide to keep Windows 7, in the future you can use the operating system installation upgrade to get the latest operating system version on your computer and transfer all your programs along with it. In this case, the jump to Windows 7 doesn’t allow for the upgrade option.

Install Programs on Windows 7

To get back to your original question, you are going to have to load the programs you want to use onto the same partition as the Windows 7 operating system. To do this, you can load your software in a third partition in the hard disk, and then allow both operating system platforms to access them. There is a tutorial and a download here for an ownership tool that allows users to move quickly between operating systems and programs, which you will likely be interested in. With this tool you can click and take ownership of programs in Windows 7, the downside is that you will have to repeat the process if you want to access the same programs in Windows Vista.

Single Installation Software Programs

Unfortunately, many software program installation packages are limited to one installation per product code, meaning that - even though you are loading the same program on the same computer - you can only use the product licensing code once. Instead of buying all your software twice, you might opt to designate certain programs to each operating system, or take some time to sample Windows 7 and decide if you want to upgrade before installing a lot of software. I hope this helps, good luck!

How do I remove Remote File Lock Vault from my Desktop?

What is Remote File Lock Vault?

Remote File Lock Vault is a tool that comes with some versions of Trend Micro’s Internet Security products. It is used for storing sensitive documents on your computer. In order to access the documents from the file lock vault, you must enter a password. You can then access your files without entering a password until you lock it or your computer disconnects from the Internet. For an added level of security, this tool regularly checks to see if you’ve reported your computer as stolen. If so, it then locks itself automatically.

I used Remote File Lock Vault for a short time on my computer a few years ago but found that it annoyed me and subsequently uninstalled it. It sounds like the newer version is less annoying as it will retain its unlocked state upon rebooting, so perhaps Trend Micro has made it more user-friendly. The new version is available in the Pro version of Internet Security.

Before You Uninstall Remote File Lock Vault

Uninstalling the software is easy enough, but you must make sure to remove your documents from Remote File Lock Vault before you uninstall it. Otherwise, they will be gone for good! Unlock your vault and move your documents to a folder on your hard drive before proceeding with the uninstall.

Uninstalling Remote File Lock Vault

To uninstall Remote File Lock Vault, launch Internet Security Pro and click the Pro Services button. Under Managed Service Components, click the Remove Installed Services link. You must be connected to the Internet at this point and be prepared to enter your Remote File Lock Vault password or the uninstall will not work.

You can also use Add and Remove Programs (or Programs and Features if you have Windows Vista) to remove Remote File Lock Vault. Simply find Remote File Lock Vault in the list of installed programs and click the Uninstall (or Remove) button.

Someone has hacked into my Hotmail account and subsequently, my Facebook account. I am not sure how to solve this. Please help.

Hotmail and Facebook Hackers

We’ve had quite a few reports of Hotmail (and many other online Webmail) users having their accounts hijacked. Accounts can be hacked in several ways including by malware that spreads itself from computer to computer and phishing scams as well as by people who have managed to crack passwords with malware and phishing being the more common problems. In fact, it only takes clicking a single link to become infected!

Account Hijacking

Once the account has been hacked into, what typically happens is that messages then go out to all of your contacts and friends. Of course, these messages are not being sent by you, but to your contacts and friends, it sure looks that way. These messages usually contain links to dangerous sites, putting your contacts and friends at risk for infection as well. Your password may be changed by the hacker, making it difficult for you to solve the problem. In addition, if Hotmail or Facebook notice suspicious activity, the account may be suspended.

Getting Your Hotmail and Facebook Accounts Back

Before attempting to get your accounts restored, it’s smart to run a complete system scan using the latest antivirus and antispyware definitions from your computer security software. Since it’s likely that your computer has malware monitoring it, removing the threat before you change the passwords ensures that the hackers won’t have access to your newly secured accounts.

A recent article, Hotmail Account Hacked, discusses how to get your Hotmail account back. As for Facebook, you have a couple of different options. One is to click the “reset password” link which will send a link to your e-mail account for resetting the password. However, if you used your Hotmail address as your primary address with Facebook and you no longer have access to your Hotmail account because of the hijacking, this won’t do any good until you can get your Hotmail account back.

Facebook has a special page for just such a situation. Go here: Security: My Account was Hacked and click the link that says, “Someone has access to my e-mail address and has changed the password for my account.” This will open a form that you can fill out in order to re-establish communications with Facebook. There are also several other links on this page, including one for reporting the hacking so make sure to read the links carefully and click any that apply.

Many users have let their guards down when using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. While most computer users know better than to open strange e-mail attachments, they don’t think twice about following links that appear in their social media accounts. Real-time anti-malware products and refusing to click on unsolicited links are among your best choices for preventing future problems.

I’ve tried everything to remove Kiwee Toolbar but nothing will get rid of it. I have tried the uninstall feature in Control Panel, I downloaded and installed Eraser and Decrapifier and neither of these succeeds in removing Kiwee. I’ve Googled and found that many people have been plagued with this toolbar and are unable to remove it and it’s becoming a big problem for my laptop. Virus scans always come up clean, however. How do we rid ourselves of this Kiwee plague?

Unfortunately, removing unwanted applications isn’t a perfect procedure and sometimes leftover entries remain and lead to problems. In other cases, certain applications, the Kiwee toolbar included, are simply difficult to remove completely. When this happens, the application persists and we are left struggling to remove it.

The Kiwee Toolbar

The Kiwee Toolbar offers a few appealing features that make it quite tempting to install on a computer or laptop including emoticons, winks, and other graphics. If you aren’t using this application or you are unhappy with its performance, removing it is the best strategy to take. It isn’t classified as a virus, spyware, or malware. It can simply be annoying and persistently so.

How to Remove Kiwee

Although you should have been able to remove the majority of the Kiwee toolbar files using the Add/Control panel, some of the files remain resident on the computer in some cases. There are other options available to you. Since the two programs that you mentioned did not work for you, I am going to suggest that you use either Perfect Uninstaller or the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.

Removing Kiwee Toolbar: Perfect Uninstaller

One program that I can recommend is for you to use the Perfect Uninstaller to remove the Kiwee Toolbar. It is designed to remove those applications that prove to be troublesome to remove with the Add/Remove utility. Simply download, install, and use to get rid of Kiwee.

Removing Kiwee Toolbar: Windows Installer Cleanup Utility

If the problem persists, then you can also try to use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. Before you use it, you need to understand that some of your other programs might inadvertently be removed as well and then you would need to reinstall them. This is only a possibility and not a certainty. However, you shouldn’t have any real difficulty if you decide to use this program. To download this application for use in removing Kiwee, visit this link: Windows Installer Cleanup Utility on Microsoft’s website.

Once you install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, the wizard takes you through the steps to remove the selected program. It offers an option to scan the registry for the leftover entries from Kiwee toolbar, so it should do the trick for you.

I have an iMac. I am using Boot Camp to dual boot into Windows Vista. My current Security Suite has firewall compatibility problems running with Vista under boot camp on the iMac. Are there any compatibility problems with PCtools Anti-virus?

Because it is the operating system that makes your system susceptible to viruses and malware, you need to tailor your antivirus system to your Vista operating system on your dual boot.  Because Macs are fairly safe when it comes to Internet threats, many dual boot users use the Mac operating system for anything Internet related, and use Vista for working on the desktop.

Vista Firewall

Vista should come loaded with two different firewall systems. To find them, go to Start and type in: firewall in the dialog box. You should then be able to access the built-in firewalls. The default is a basic firewall system while the other has enhanced security features. You may find that tweaking the enhanced security features may give you all the firewall protection that you need.

Third Party Firewall Software

Again, when you are looking at antivirus and firewall programs, look to see if they support the Vista system you are using. PC Tools does support Vista 32-bit, so it should work if that is the version you are using. Reviews have PC Tools a little far down on the list because of some of the interface and the speed of the scans can be much slower than other programs. One to try is Antivirus Plus which is said to be cleaner and much faster.

If you are using Vista 64-bit, your choices are more limited. A recent Filetonic article discusses antivirus programs for Vista 64-bit.

Any viruses or bad guys that get through to your Vista operating system can’t cross over into your Mac, at least as of this writing. Make sure that whatever program you choose, you keep it updated with the latest security updates as often as possible. If you have any more questions, let us know exactly what kind of compatibility problems you’re having and we’ll try to pinpoint some other options.