P2P File Sharing without firewall danger?

[Mighty_Reds]

Hi first post! We’ve just got our first computer at home and began surfing the net on Friday night. I’m well aware of the need for security on the internet and was given a copy of Norton Anti Virus 2006 by a friend in work which I installed before going online.

In the 3/4 days since, I’ve done some general web browsing but have also used a peer2peer file sharing application called TV Ants, a Far East / Japenese thing, (I can send a link is necessary) to view some football matches. I’ve been advised that these applications can sometimes be a bit risky?

At the time I assumed I was well protected due to having the antivirus installed but have since discovered that Norton Anti-Virus 2006 does not include a firewall and the Windows firewall was turned off at the time aswell.

I have since installed the free Zone Alarm firewall but have been concerned over the last few days incase I’ve endangered the computer. Everything seems to be running as normal but I just can’t stop worrying that something bad might have happened without my knowledge while I was file sharing without a firewall.

I would be most grateful if someone could offer me some advice / or put my mind to rest on this matter please.

 

[henryjsaunders]

Download ad-aware and update definition and then do a full scan. Delete everything. (you will problably see tracking cookie and mru list's. These are not very bad but delete them anyway).

Do the same with spybot search and destroy but before scanning immunize your computer with it. Then do a full scan and delete anything.

If you are still worried download hijak this and selet it to make a log. When it has finished notepad will open with log copy that into your next post.

Then do a live update on norton and then a full scan.

You computer will probably be clean.