[BearMom]

While checking email on my ISP server last night on my win xp laptop, a vile, full-screen ad popped under the screen I had open. I have Avast and am double fire-walled. I ran Hijack this and didn't recognize anything that would let the trash in.

When I ran Spybot S & D, it showed that a Microsoft security key had been disabled. Spybot fixed it.

Question: What do I need to set higher so that nothing can come in and reset my security? I don't know how the "changer" came into the computer.

[PCcruncher]

You shouldn't run more than one firewall at a time on your computer as they can conflict with each other.
What is the other one you have? It is recommended to disable the windows firewall and use a third party firewall like commodo, or zone alarm.

[blues_harp28]

Hi post your Hjt log and let an expert check it would be a good move.

[Elvandil]

Originally Posted by PCcruncher

You shouldn't run more than one firewall at a time on your computer as they can conflict with each other.
What is the other one you have? It is recommended to disable the windows firewall and use a third party firewall like commodo, or zone alarm.

Agreed. More than one firewall or antivirus is a bad idea. There can be connection problems at the least, and theoretically, driver conflicts could actually allow things to get through.

[BearMom]

I do have both Win firewall and our router. Isn't that two firewalls? I've been told that a router functions as a firewall.

[calvin-c]

Right. Previous advice was talking about software firewalls. Running 2 firewalls is a good idea, as long as one is software & one is hardware.

OTOH PCcruncher's advice to replace the Windows firewall with a better one is also good.