Virus That Hijacks Websurfing- Help!

[Twila]

Our home computer is infected with a virus that ****s with our internet surfing.

It won't allow us to visit certain sites. When you search for something and google shows you a selection of things it thinks you want, when you click on the selection this virus redirects you to another site.

How do we get rid of it. We can't type the exact address into the address bar, it's affecting our virus scan (AVG)

What can I do?

 

[DurkaDurka]

Sounds like your host file has been altered. Go download Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy.

http://malektips.com/spyware_adware_0017.html

 

[Twila]

thanks Durka!

 

[Twila]

Oh, one other thing. The tower is making an odd beeping noise during start up. Any idea? It's never made this particular beep before.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Oh, one other thing. The tower is making an odd beeping noise during start up. Any idea? It's never made this particular beep before.

Has anything stopped working on your PC? Those beeps you hear are diagnostic codes which could represent a few different things. Bad memory, malfunctioning device etc. How many times does it beep when it starts up?

 

[Twila]

I will have to count them. My daughter downloaded Zune software and that had created some interesting conflicts.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Ahh, you should create your daughter a separate profile within XP without admin rights so she won't mangle the system.

 

[snowles]

I'll add to the original thought that the program SuperAntiSpyware seems to work a whole lot better than both Ad-Aware (especially the new version) and Spybot, and finds more than either program combined.

Also, if you do a Google for VundoFix, that program will help clear up any nasty viruses that your spyware program might not be able to get at. Good luck!

 

[Twila]

Durka, we did. However, we had allowed her priviledges that will now be revoked...gah, another 4 yrs she should be living on her own...although with her big plans to be an RN, we may just move in with her! lol

Snowles, thanks for that. I will give the SuperAntiSpyware are whirl. I'll check out that VundoFix too!

 

[shadowshiv]

I'll add to the original thought that the program SuperAntiSpyware seems to work a whole lot better than both Ad-Aware (especially the new version) and Spybot, and finds more than either program combined.

Also, if you do a Google for VundoFix, that program will help clear up any nasty viruses that your spyware program might not be able to get at. Good luck!

Can SuperAntiSpyware be used without any conflicts from either Ad-Aware(I agree with you, and Adaware is not as useful as it used to be. It is still good, though) or Norton AV? Also, does it run constantly in the background, or can you just have it running when you do an active scan?

 

[scratch]

Why not have a look at the following:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Never hurts to know what's out there.

 

[snowles]

Can SuperAntiSpyware be used without any conflicts from either Ad-Aware(I agree with you, and Adaware is not as useful as it used to be. It is still good, though) or Norton AV? Also, does it run constantly in the background, or can you just have it running when you do an active scan?

As far as I know, it can be, though SAS will get everything Ad-Aware will, so there's not a lot of point to keeping both on. It will work with Norton AV just fine (most versions don't do much if anything with spyware anyways).

The free version of SAS only allows you to run manual or scheduled checks; the full version also includes real-time protection. I have found as long as you run a weekly check it's fine, and you can save yourself some cash. Both versions have free daily updates, and allow you to protect your home page in IE (one of the most annoying things spyware/viruses tinker with). Since I use the free version, I turn off the option to start the program with Windows, and just load it to do an active scan; no need to waste resources (right click on tray icon -> preferences -> uncheck 'Start when Windows starts').

And yeah, get Firefox, but also add the Ad-Block Plus add-on, which is free (Tools -> Add-Ons, do a search and install). Not only does it keep a large blocks of garbage and ads from ever displaying on your browser, it keeps out a good chunk of cookies and some spyware.

 

[eh1eh]

I had the same thing Twila. Because it was sort of a spare comp at work, the one I use for porn, I just reloaded XP.

How did you make out with the bug removal?

 

[Twila]

I can't access any site that is antivirus. can't update the virus protection I currently have. WTF?

 

[anonymus]

Try Googling Trend Micro House Call . When there follow the directions for a free scan for virus and malware.I like the Java base scan cause because all the data for the scan stays stored in your PC for the next time you need a scan and then at that time only updates need to be downloaded.I ve had it recommended by a Microsoft technician

Good luck!