Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
Yes, clean install is best but I hope not to have to do that -- although the
last time I did that at work, on company time, it really sped up my win2k
machine, and I was happy I did it.
The problem with a visual scan of services, startup items, and drivers is
that I am not familar with the names of many of them so I have no idea
whether they are legitimate or not. I don't know how hackers write this
stuff but it sure seems to me that they wouldn't name it "evil keyboard
logging utility"; they would name it something harmless sounding. So it
seems that what I want is sometihng like a virus scanning utility that
searches for a list of known exploits.
sk
"Ramesh [MVP]" <ramesh@nojunkmails.com@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:u6TXu9F5EHA.936@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
The launchpoints of keyloggers are Services and startup items:
How to manage Windows Startup?:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/startup.htm
To inspect the services, open MSCONFIG and switch to Services tab. Click
"Hide all Microsoft services".
And, use Drivers.exe to list all the loaded drivers:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/drivers-o.asp
Even better, try a clean install of XP:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org
"eskey" <regfman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:O9B2Q0F5EHA.2316@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
I had a few people staying at my home while I was not around. I don't use a
login. I'd like to feel confident that they didn't install a keyboard
logger trojan that could steal my passwords. Can somebody suggests how I
should approach this. [I am even considering format c: as its been a
couple years since I originally bought this XP computer.]
sk