can't download updates

I just upgraded to the professional edition because I wasn’t able to download updates. An error message said Avast couldn’t connect to the proxy server, or a firewall was preventing connection to the internet.

I was using the home edition, but automatic updates weren’t happening, I got swamped with Windows Police Pro on the weekend. Seems I need something with regular updates, but I can’t figure out how to get the professional version to install - I just get the home version opening again and again.

Trying to troubleshoot my own problem, I can’t seem to open anything in the Control Panel. The add/remove programs won’t open, Windows Firewall and Internet Options. When my system was attacked by Windows Police Pro (the malware that shan’t be named - I worry about triggering or unleashing the beast again by saying its name), it froze all the programs, including all the Windows utilities. I believe it has been deleted from my system, thanks to a link I found in this forum, but I still can’t open the Control Panel files.

what link did you find in the forum?.. what did you do?. mention it.

I suggest:

  1. Clean your temporary files.
  2. Schedule a boot time scanning with avast with archive scanning turned on. If avast does not detect it, you can try DrWeb CureIT! instead. If you can’t do that, boot in Safe Mode and try avast scanning from there.
  3. Use MBAM (or SUPERantispyware or even Spyware Terminator) to scan for spywares and trojans. If any infection is detected, better and safer is send the file to Quarantine than to simple delete them.
  4. Test your machine with anti-rootkit applications. I suggest avast! antirootkit or Trend Micro RootkitBuster.
  5. Make a HijackThis log to post here or this analysis site. Or even submit the RunScanner log to to on-line analysis.
  6. Clean your Hosts file (replacing it) with HostsMan tool.
  7. Disable System Restore and then reenable it again.
  8. Immunize your system with SpywareBlaster.
  9. Check if you have insecure applications with Secunia Software Inspector.

Removal instructions:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-windows-police-pro