I got infected!

I still don't think I have the system totally locked down, but Here is what I did.

I modified my 'hosts' file to prevent any strang popups accessing the offending servers. winfixer, vipfares, trafficexplorer, winantivirus, etc....

Also, locked down outgoing traffic with ZoneAlarm.

I ran several AntiViruses, AVG (initially came up clean) and Panda (from PCPitStop). Removed asdf.exe from my root folder, and went after the file identified as infected. Had to turn on see hidden files and turn on see hidden protected system files. Got it removed.

I want to add that I agressively tried to manually fix it, but there seems to be better products to identify and kill spyware now. Ofcourse I like ad-aware, have that for scanning, and now M$ has one that monitors your registry and internal M$ files. For scanning, my latest true find is "Spyware Doctor" it found stuff nothing else found.

The problem is with adware is it's in the eye of the beholder. Spyware Doctor identified two malware toolbars[ I never installed]. They might have been legit previously, and the latest antispyware didn't flag them.

So let the programs try to clean your system. AFter you lock it down with a product like ZoneAlarm, so while you are cleanign existing malware is not reinstalling malware.

hth,

tom