# Malware took out my firewall and won't give back control
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 4, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002 "2012-12-04T22:02:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/1 "2012-12-04T22:02:38Z")
I started having difficulty downloading data and went to my firewall. I got an error code 0x80070424 which denies me the ability to change the settings of my firewall. It says: Update your firewall setting. Windows firewall is not using the recommended settings to protect your computer. Then the clickable button says “Use recommended settings”. When I click it, I get the error 0x80070424.
I started my computer in safemode and used rkill, tdsskiller, adwcleaner, CCleaner and RogueKiller to get rid of any malware. It hasn’t worked.
I tried to restart the Firewall manually by going to Services but Windows Firewall doesn’t even appear in the list of local services. The list goes from Windows Event Log right to Windows Font Cache without the usual Windows Firewall inbetween.
So, what can I do to retake control of my firewall? I’m already having Microsft Safety Scanner and Malware Bytes scan my whole computer. I’m doubtful it’ll work as usually, rkill tdsskiller, adwclean, CCleander and RK catch what MB and Microsoft sotfware can’t catch.
Anyone have ideas on what to do?
---
### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/2 "2012-12-04T22:36:48Z")
Once Malware Bytes has finished, run this MS tool:
> **[Microsoft Easy Fix solutions have been discontinued - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/microsoft-easy-fix-solutions-have-been-discontinued-b0f4b5f9-3b5a-bd9e-d75d-d45e2f12e16c)**
>
> Describes Microsoft easy fix solutions and how to use them. "Microsoft easy fix" was formerly known as "Microsoft Fix it."
---
### Author:  [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/3 "2012-12-05T16:55:22Z")
Quartz,
Thanks for the link. MB took out four malwares and I tried the MS tool you linked to. It said that “Windows could nto start Windows Firewall” and “Windows Firewall service is not started”.
Background intelligent transfer service is not present in the list of services. I have Windows 7 64 bit.
Windows Updates used not to be able to download and install updates. Now it isn’t running. It isn’t in the list of services.
---
### Author:  [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/4 "2012-12-05T20:56:25Z")
i can’t recommend combofix highly enough.
---
### Author:  [@emoticorpse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emoticorpse)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/5 "2012-12-05T22:02:24Z")
system restore to before you had the problem is a good next step
---
### Author:  [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malware-took-out-my-firewall-and-wont-give-back-control/643002/6 "2012-12-05T22:13:35Z")
> [@emoticorpse](#):
>
> system restore to before you had the problem is a good next step
Yeah, gotta remember to make those once in a while.
> [@flano1](#):
>
> i can’t recommend combofix highly enough.
/Infomercial/ I tried it and it worked! Thanks Combofix! /infomercial/
Yeah, Combofix seemed to do the trick. At least as far as I can tell. Windows Update and the firewall are both up. Still no sign of the Background intelligent transfer service, however.