Computer Problem - Firewall

[WildWes]

One of my computers (Dell Optiplex GX520 with XP Pro SP3) is now telling me my firewall is not turned on. When I attempt to turn it on, I get the following pop-up box:

"Due to an unidentified problem, Windows cannot display Windows Firewall Settings". Anybody experience this before or have an ideal on how to fix it?

[CharlyG]

To start, download MalwareBytes and run. You may have some malware messing with the firewall. There is also a pgm called Hijack This that I use at work, but you need to be able to understand the registry for it to be effective. They both have a free version that we install, run and uninstall at work so as to not have to have licenses.

Ps - I should mention Im a desktop tech at Universal Music Group, and not some schlub taking a swag!!!:D:cool:

[Guinness]

yup... you have malware installed. STAY OFF THE PORN SITES!!! :)

MalwareBytes and HijackThis is great.

Also, Spybot S&D is good too. As is Spyware blaster.

[TAKnipe]

Wes, You might want to check if you paid the Delivery area surcharge on your firewall!!! LOL

[CharlyG]

the last bad one at work (a couple weeks ago) was due to a vulnerability in a Flash update. A nasty one but seems to have gone quiet.

[WildWes]

yup... you have malware installed. STAY OFF THE PORN SITES!!! :) MalwareBytes and HijackThis is great. Also, Spybot S&D is good too. As is Spyware blaster.

Actually, I use another computer for my extensive porn viewing pleasure, as it has AVG, Avast, Stopzilla and HistoryKill installed on it.

I can barely get the thing to boot-up with all those programs running - hahahaha

[TAKnipe]

Actually, I use another computer for my extensive porn viewing pleasure, as it has AVG, Avast, Stopzilla and HistoryKill installed on it.

I can barely get the thing to boot-up with all those programs running - hahahaha


I just password protect mine :) Wifeaway lol

BTW Wes, did you call Ron? maybe he can figure out whats wrong? I mentioned to him that you were having a problem. I hope this gets resolved. T

[WildWes]

I just password protect mine :) Wifeaway lol

BTW Wes, did you call Ron? maybe he can figure out whats wrong? I mentioned to him that you were having a problem. I hope this gets resolved. T

No, I haven't called Ron, but he did help me (ie, did all the work himself) set it up when I first purchased it. I'll probably download one of those malware fix it programs this weekend and see what happens.

[WildWes]

To start, download MalwareBytes and run. You may have some malware messing with the firewall. There is also a pgm called Hijack This that I use at work, but you need to be able to understand the registry for it to be effective. They both have a free version that we install, run and uninstall at work so as to not have to have licenses.

Ps - I should mention Im a desktop tech at Universal Music Group, and not some schlub taking a swag!!!:D:cool:

I went to install MalwareBytes a week ago and my system said my firewall was on. I went ahead and installed MalwareBytes and cleaned the system. I also installed Advanced Registery Optimizer 2010 to clean-up the registery too. Today, I logged-on, see my firewall is off again (ghost in the machine) and it won't allow me to turn it on. Any other suggestions?

[Guinness]

the 'firewall' notification is probably fake. You 'turned it on' right from the pop up alert? In doing so, you installed more malware.

Run and install Spybot S&D. Malwarebytes being installed is a good. Some malware will not allow the installation of mbam.exe (malwarebytes executatable).

There are many forums out there who's hobby it is to fix infected systems. They'll ask for HiJack this logs. Good folks, i've found.

If you get in a real bind, download Puppy Linux and boot from the disk. From there, you can really clean your system.

for what's it's worth, I've always found that those "registry fixers" mess things up more than they help.

[WildWes]

Ran Spybot S&D which cleaned-up 10 hiding programs, but not the firewall problem.

[Axe_Grinder]

Feel free to give me a jingle-jangle, Wes. Talk soon :)

[Guinness]

I'm sure Axe can get you taken care of... but if not, it may be worthwhile to format the drive and reinstall XP. I do it about every few years. It's a pain if you have a lot of software, but WOW does the comp run faster with a fresh install.

Also.. to confirm the 'fake firewall' message. In your control panel, do you have "Security Settings"? If so, open it and see if your firewall is on. If it's not there, then the malware didn't let the service load and the 'fake firewall' message is just that... fake. AND, you may be open to other potential problems.

Good luck.

[WildWes]

Re-booted this morning and said it was "ON" again. Unless........that's fake too. Thanks for all the free source spy-seeker program thingy's.

[TAKnipe]

Wes, call Ron, if anyone can fix it and walk you through a fix its Ron. Good luck, I have been reading along as the problem persists and thought spybot and malware bytes would have taken care of it. T

[dschrammie]

Don't call Ron...he's busy.
:D

[WildWes]

Don't call Ron...he's busy.
:D

Hmmmm. I sense reverse psychology in this one?

[Sal]

what was the final "fix"?

[CaTaPulT]

Kinda like the old MSDOS days?
Abort, Retry, Influence with a large hammer? LOL :D
Take care

Regards: >>>> Jack <<<<

[WildWes]

Re-booted this morning and said it was "ON" again. Unless........that's fake too. Thanks for all the free source spy-seeker program thingy's.

So far since using a pc registry cleaner and Malwarebytes, it's been ok.

[Axe_Grinder]

So far since using a pc registry cleaner and Malwarebytes, it's been ok.


Good to hear :)

.....and David, I'm never too busy for Wes. Always such a smart ass :D