problem with unwanted file

Hi,
I am running Win xp pro. IE vs 7
My problem, one day my son turned the computer on and the desktop pic was
gone and replaced with a red screen with a poison type of symbol. I found a
file in my C drive marked privacy_danger, which I thought was the prob and
deleted it. Now, I still cannot get a desktop pic because everything I try to
apply I get the error message:
Cannot find:
C:/Windows/privacy_danger/index.htm
I was told that there was a file in my registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
and that I should delete the file "smgr".
This file I cannot find and am still getting the error message.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

tami wrote:
> Hi,
> I am running Win xp pro. IE vs 7
> My problem, one day my son turned the computer on and the desktop pic was
> gone and replaced with a red screen with a poison type of symbol. I found a
> file in my C drive marked privacy_danger, which I thought was the prob and
> deleted it. Now, I still cannot get a desktop pic because everything I try to
> apply I get the error message:
> Cannot find:
> C:/Windows/privacy_danger/index.htm
> I was told that there was a file in my registry
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
> and that I should delete the file "smgr".
> This file I cannot find and am still getting the error message.
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Your computer is infected with malware. Do the preparatory steps here:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Then do the specific removal steps here:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Smitfraud_Trojan

When all else fails, run HijackThis and post your log in one of the
specialty forums listed at the link above (not here, please).

Standard caveat: If the procedures look too complex - and there is no
shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a
professional computer repair shop (not your local version of
BigStoreUSA). Please be aware that not all local shops are skilled at
removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be so infested
that Windows will need to be clean-installed. Have all your data backed
up before you take the machine into a shop.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User