I am being plagued by what Ms call a "Malicious software attack trying to gain control of my computer"
Whenever I'm online I frequently get this pop up stating "Generic host process for win 32 services has encountered a problem and needs to close", after a few minutes I get an online crash and I become "offline" even though the "online icon" is still there.
Ms suggest installing their latest security update. Well I have been there and done that and no change. I have even downloaded Ms's "Malicious software removal tool", I used it and it took an hour to scan my pc and found nothing.I have even tried "System restore" but that doesn't work anymore.
I really am in a bit of a fix - advice would be appreciated.

Hi Essexboy, thank you for your reply. I have done a HJT log and here it is:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:32:07, on 25/08/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Fmctrl.EXE
C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPagePro12.0\Opware12.exe
C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\j2 Messenger 4.0\J2GDllCmd.exe
C:\Program Files\j2 Messenger 4.0\J2GTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\home\LOCALS~1\Temp\Rar$EX00.220\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://uk.yahoo.com/index_narrow.html
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {77701e16-9bfe-4b63-a5b4-7bd156758a37} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {A8F38D8D-E480-4D52-B7A2-731BB6995FDD} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {C4069E3A-68F1-403E-B40E-20066696354B} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [FmctrlTray] Fmctrl.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InCD] C:\Program Files\Ahead\InCD\InCD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Opware12] "C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\OmniPagePro12.0\Opware12.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpeedTouch USB Diagnostics] "C:\Program Files\Thomson\SpeedTouch USB\Dragdiag.exe" /icon
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - Global Startup: j2 DllCmd 4.0.lnk = C:\Program Files\j2 Messenger 4.0\J2GDllCmd.exe
O4 - Global Startup: j2 Tray Menu 4.0.lnk = C:\Program Files\j2 Messenger 4.0\J2GTray.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Instant Buzz - {066040F0-5018-4E15-8AA0-81D36136D989} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1156282148499
O16 - DPF: {644E432F-49D3-41A1-8DD5-E099162EEEC5} (Symantec RuFSI Utility Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1156282118747
O16 - DPF: {D8089245-3211-40F6-819B-9E5E92CD61A2} (FlashXControl Object) - https://riverbelle.microgaming.com/riverbelle/FlashAX.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{35745C20-F620-4329-81C0-36CF7F89CDD0}: NameServer = 80.225.254.178 80.225.254.186
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto-Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Firewall Monitor Service (NPFMntor) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\IWP\NPFMntor.exe
O23 - Service: Norton Protection Center Service (NSCService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Console\NSCSRVCE.EXE
O23 - Service: Symantec AVScan (SAVScan) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: SPBBCSvc - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe

Back Again ;

Please rerun HJT and place a check mark against the following

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {77701e16-9bfe-4b63-a5b4-7bd156758a37} - (no file)

Unable to find anything out about the next one, but if you do not recognise Instant Buzz I would also recommend it's deletion
O9 - Extra button: Instant Buzz - {066040F0-5018-4E15-8AA0-81D36136D989} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\shdocvw.dll

Close all other windows except HJT and select fix checked.

Apart from that you are clean.  However I did some research on your problem in case it was not malware and found a Netapi.dll that may be causing it.  A fix is available from MS at this address

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=2996b9b6-03ff-4636-861a-46b3eac7a305&displaylang=en

Could you run it and let me know if your problem still exists, if it does I will carry out further research 

Hi Adventurer I found that instant buzz on one of my terciary sites and it is Adware I am looking for a fix now,  Sorry about that..  But I'm glad the netapi.dll fix worked..

Hi again Essexboy,
I have done what you advised.
There is no trace of "instant buzz", I think we zapped it all yesterday.
I have downloaded, installed and scanned with "Ewido" and I can't believe how many nasties there are on my computer! I presume they are cleaned and/or quarantined now.
Prepare for a long list as follows:

Couldn't send it - too big!
Hopefully it's in the attachment.

Essexboy,
I did the "System restore" thing this morning.
Yes I really am squeaky clean, well my computer is anyway.
Your help has been much appreciated - thank you.