Is it safe to delete these registry items?

[scorpio grrl]

Gidday all,
I'm only a new computer user of 4 months. Have windows XP Home SP2. During the first month, DH was viewing some adult sites, and not long after that, we received a $44 bill for some telco here in Oz that I've never heard of. Reluctantly, I paid the bill and promptly had the international service and premium rate call prefixes removed from our home line via our tel provider.

I have discovered the following in the registry editor;
HKey_current user/software/microsoft/windows/current version/telephony/cards;
US Sprint; Carte France Telecom; Mercury UK; British Telecom; Clear Communications NZ; Global Card (Taiwan to USA); MCI Direct dial via 10102221; so on and so on.

Also in;
HKey_current user/software/microsoft/windows/current version/telephony/hand off priorities; is the following entry;
Request make call REG_SZ DIALER.EXE
Is this a leftover dialer hijacker?

Also in;
HKey_local machine/software/microsoft/windows/current version/telephony/country list;
I counted 236 separate listings for Anguilla to Uzbekistan.

Is it safe to delete any or all of these entries? I know the registry can be tricky if you happen to delete the wrong thing. I have learnt from previous mistakes. I just think that there a waste of space if not an integral part of the system. Thanking you in advance for your advice.
Regards, scorpio grrl.

[Doggy Doo]

Not that hot on registry stuff but this link may help, its on registry cleaners.

http://www.the-scream.co.uk/forums/t14715.html?

DD

[Doggy Doo]

Better still check back later as the Scream Team are no doubt still tucked up asleep, But as they start to awaken more expert advice will be given.


DD

[scorpio grrl]

Thanks Doggy Doo, I will look into the links that you suggested, but wont take any action yet. It always helps to read up on these things.

[Ian]

Those all look fine to me, dont delete them.

download and install either adware : http://www.lavasoft.com/support/download/

or spybot : http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

or both

[scorpio grrl]

Thanks Ian, I will take your advice. I forgot to mention in my original post that I have spybot, adaware and avg7 installed. But none of these were installed on my computer in the first month, when this problem happened. They have all been working fine.
Regards, scorpio grrl

[prying eyes]

Better still install a firewall like zone alarm, so you will be alerted if any application is trying to access internet. You can safely deny permission and later allow if found safe.

[scorpio grrl]

Thanks prying eyes. Shouldn't the firewall that comes with windows XP be sufficient enough though? Just curious. That why I thought that deleting them, there would be no permanent avenue/record on my comp for 'dialers' to access - as well as having the offending numbers blocked on the phone. But knowing how persistent these hackers can be, they have already worked out how to detour around such measures.

Thanks though for your input, will look into the firewall.

[prying eyes]

Windows xp firewall is very basic and it's helpfull only in preventing attacks from outside, ie, it's a oneway firewall.
Zonealarm is a twoway firewall which will give you an alert everytime any application tries to access from within your pc. you can even get detailed info regarding the culprit from their website by clicking the "more info" from the alert and then decide whether you want to grant access or deny permission.
Note: Have you tried the "immunization" of spybot. better do immunization every week after updating the program. Also open spybot in advanced mode, goto tools--> settings and check "resident". Make sure both the options are enabled. This will enable "teatimer" and give you added protection against these dialers.

[scorpio grrl]

Hi prying eyes,
I tried the zone alarm, and decided it wasn't for me. I wasnt impressed with the way it blocked everything from msn messenger to outlook express (downloading incoming emails). When I clicked 'more info' on the alert, the info page came up behind it and the only way to read it was to accept access so that the info page could be read to find out what you had just accepted. I also found the uninstall process a bit suspicious.

On the upside, I did the immunization of spybot, wow, thats a surprise! Dummies like me didnt even know of the extra capacity there. So thanks prying eyes, you were spot on with that.

I have also discovered a new antivirus/spyware scan 'Ewido'. Downloaded it yesterday, and its running great so far.

[prying eyes]

I wasnt impressed with the way it blocked everything from msn messenger to outlook express (downloading incoming emails)

Hi Scorpio girl,
I don't believe it's blocking everything. Zonealarm is asking permission. That should be the way a good firewall should work. It should ask permission and give its reccommendations . If you look clearly you can see that for known programs, it by default gives you the option to always allow. (You should've enabled the alert advisor for this. Setting :automatic.)
Once you have run your most common applications and gave permission as always allow, you should not have any problem.
See, windows xp firewall never asked you for any permission. It just allowed and thats dangerous.

You can turn email protection to OFF. Just open ZA from the system tray and goto the tab "e-mail protection and turn both inbound and outbound to off.

Before uninstalling, atleast you should've configured some options.

If you don't like the constant alerts, you can turn it completely off or only for high rated from the "alerts and logs" tab.

Since you had a problem, I will not reccommend you to surf without a full fledged firewall.

Maybe you can try some other firewalls like norton or sygate also.

I also found the uninstall process a bit suspicious.

Well, here's the link for uninstalling ZoneAlarm completely from your pc. you may want to look at it as uninstalling ZA is known to create a lot of problems.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE, AS YOU MUST'VE ALREADY KNOWN.

Maybe you should try "spywareblaster". (totally free)

It's free and unlike other scanners, it will prevent these spywares from installing in your pc and it works verywell along with spybot.
REGULARLY UPDATE ALL YOUR ANTISPYWARE / ANTIVIRUS PROGRAMS

and the only way to read it was to accept access so that the info page could be read to find out what you had just accepted

You can safely deny permission (just do not enable the option always) to any program. When u start it again, it will again ask for permission. If you've mistakenly given or denied permission as always, open ZA, goto "program controls--> programs and can change option accordingly (ask, allow, block) by right clicking on the access.
Here's what experts say about xp firewall

Both the router and XP firewalls have one thing in common, they prevent communication
to the "inside" from the "outside" unless it was requested by the inside. They do
not prevent any programs inside from communicating with the outside.

This is the main difference between the two major types of firewall, what you could
call one-way vs two-way. A two-way firewall examines traffic in both directions
and prevents or allows said traffic in accordance with whatever rules you or the
program have implemented.

Two way firewalls have up until very recently been very hard for the average person
to put up with, since during their first few days of being installed constantly ask
the user, "Blah-blah is trying to access the internet, do you want to let it?" Recent
versions replace much of the "blah-b;ah" with automatic rules for known harmless
programs or beter explanations of what "blah blah" is and what it wants to do.

[scorpio grrl]

I dont know how to do those quote paragraphs, so Ill have to do it the old fashioned way.
Could someone please pass me the sarcasm trowel, so I can lay it on thick for prying eyes, ah thanks.

prying eyes "If you dont like the constant alerts, you can turn it completely off"
Yeah, great. You get a super-duper firewall then turn it off. Makes sense.

prying eyes "uninstalling ZA is known to create a lot of problems"
Gee, thanks. You forgot to mention that in your original post to me when you recommended this program. It sorta reminds me of a google ad in this forum for a special tool/scan to remove Kazaa. That makes you feel really confident about a program, right?

prying eyes "Since you had a problem, I will not recommend you to surf without a full fledged firewall"
Well stone the crows, we all should open the door and throw our computers to smithereens, because we all dont surf with a full fledged firewall. Since when did I need your recommendation to surf anyway?

One last thing; A so-called 'friend' with 4 years experience helped with the set up of my computer (me being illiterate at the time) Friend installed a pirated and seriously out of date AV. Within the first 3 hours of web browsing, the start page and web browser were totally hijacked. Trojans were popping up at the rate of a dozen an hour - no joke. 'Friend no where to be found. So after many hours, days and weeks of wading through a virus infected screen, I researched and installed AV/adaware/scans/various security measures. Im pleased to say that in 4 months, I have had 1 (one) trojan. How about you?

[prying eyes]

HI,
iI'm not into an argument with you.
1. I just said to turn off (or reduce for high rated only) the alerts ie, the notifications, if you know. Not the protection. Most ordinary pc users does that after a few days, so that they are not bothered with the constant notifications about intrusions.
2. uninstalling almost all antivirus / firewall programs (or any) most of the time creates some sort of problems, if you don't follow their instructions. I just pointed to their guidelines. Even norton or for that matter nero can create problems after thay have been uninstalled. That's the reason they have another "complete removal tool", just in case. So it is always good to check the author's website to see any special instructions are there for uninstalling.
3. We would not let a total stranger into our house. Same applys for a software also. Goto the author's website, gather as much info and reviews, check to see for any special instructions for installing, uninstalling and any compatibility issues with your Operating System/other programs and then only install. Other's can only suggest, it's upto you to gather information and decide. Flaming @ others who give advice will not do any good to you.
3.I'm sorry if any of my words hurt you. (BTW, meaning of recommend = to present as worthy of acceptance or trial)
Bye

[scorpio grrl]

Hi prying eyes, your apology is accepted. I'm happy not to argue either. Did you notice that I thanked you for your suggestion regarding spybot? 'Kiss and make up?'. Oops, maybe you're a girl, sorry.