XP - istsvc.dll -

I just asked for help on Eradicating IE 6 from XP. I will explain why. AO has some good program types who may be able to answer this.

While surfing; I suddenly got 'dialup' software being installed in the background (and 'hot sex tool bar', etc, etc). My IE toolbars are locked...and as far as I can tell, IE 6 has all the patches to prevent malicious code.

However......I noticed (finally) that ISTsvc is running as a process. (wasn't there a couple weeks ago) With a bit of searching, ISTsvc seems to be an ActiveX component.

Is this a valid component ? Or is it a vulnerability - allowing programs to be installed 'silently' (according to an ISTsvc txt file)

Thanks

Quote:

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1STBAR

Partially removed via add/remove programs (MS AUpdate and ISTbar). Use AdAware and/or Spybot to help with the cleanup.

You can also clean up the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (AutoUpdater entry for 'aupdate.exe' programme or "1stService"

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CSLID\{69550BE2-9A78-11D2-BA91-00600827878D}

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\1STbar

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Pugi.PugiObj

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Pugi.PugiObj.1

Search engine hijackings - you may also need to delete the following registry keys as per the advice in Microsoft's knowledge base article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q323869



HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

Delete the following files if they exist: aupdate_uninstall.exe; aupdate.trk; aupdate.conf; aupdate.exe; istbar.dll; istsvc.exe
source

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Try cheking out these links-

http://www.computing.net/windows95/w...um/152266.html
http://www.liutilities.com/products/...ibrary/istsvc/

Quote:

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Process File: istsvc or istsvc.exe
Process Name: IST Service
Description: Application is an Internet Explorer Toolbar which helps user to find adult material on the net. It also popups advertisements.
Company: Integrated Search Technologies
System Process: No
Security Risk ( Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware ): Yes
Common Errors: N/A

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From- http://www.liutilities.com/products/...ibrary/istsvc/

And your question asking how to get rid of IE-
First download another internet browser-
Opera has Good GUI, and is a little more strict than IE. It wont allow vb scripts (at least i think..) to run. And you can configure its pop-up blocker to only allow pop ups that you request for. Tabbed browsing, there is advertisements for the free version, you can configure it so the advertisement is just plugged somewhere away from the webpage your visiting. (its google advertisements - not really a pain in the neck)

Not too sure about mozilla, might want to check here-
http://www.xulplanet.com/ndeakin/arts/reasons.html
There are many more browsers you can download, google search for them. Make sure that your not getting a IE wrapper.

Alright, now to take care of IE-
Go to start, control panel, Add or Remove Programs
Click on the button that says add or remove Windows Components
Go to Internet Explorer and untick the box next to it
Click on Next

Your done. This doesnt get rid of internet explorer, but IE is not your default browser anymore. Install the browser you downloaded and make it your default browser (most browsers ask you if you want it to be your default browser). Just do all your surfing on this browser, only use IE to do your updates. You can open a IE window by going to start, all programs, windows update.

And make sure you have a Antivirus program running. There are alot of free ones running around. Many people would reccommend these programs -

•Ad-aware - removes spyware / adware and its free for home users
•http://www.safer-networking.org/ - removes spyware / adware and its free - it might catch some things that ad-aware might not catch.
•Spyware Blaster - prevents spyware from starting in the first place
•Bazooka Adware and Spyware remover - Scans for adware / spyware, scans real fast - it tells you what you have and how to remove it, but it doesnt remove it for you. Updates at random intervals.
•AnologX - Has alot of stuff for your computer, I reccommend you download "Cache booster" and "ScriptDefender"

If you cant get an antivirus, try AVG antivirus or Avast! Antivirus-
AVG Antivirus
Avast! Antivirus