Computer Help Please? Trouble with Malware?

Stayathomemom | 5/12/11 | Stayathomemom

[stayathomemom]

When I visit certain websites, Target.com, eBay.com, and Hertz.com, I am redirected (don't know if that is the proper term) within a couple of seconds to a Yahoo search page. I also discovered this morning that the same thing happens when I visit Google.com and wait about 30 seconds. I have searched for solutions to this problem and have not found a solution which seems to address this problem specifically. Last week I did find a suggestion to try a list of different things including: system restore, which wouldn't work, and running my Trend Micro Antivirus and Housecall in safe mode, which I did. The problem still persists. Has anyone experienced this same problem and found a solution?

[Mygirlsmom]

Ooh, I am losing my touch.....simple things first.

It could be that you are inadvertently typing in the "search" area instead of the part of the bar that sends you directly to the site (URL bar).

If you are directed to Yahoo.com, what happens if you select the proper site on the yahoo page? (For example, you should see an entry for Target.com in the yahoo search) If you choose it, do you get to the right place?

[Hootowl99]

Yep... Totally agree with your malwarebytes recommendation. I have used it in tandem with ad-aware (lavasoft.com) for a number of years. A good antivirus + firewall program are fine (and essential) for preventing most intrusions but are not totally functional for removing infections. For me, malwarebytes is the most robust program for cleaning up a malware mess but is slow running. Ad-aware is a lot faster scan but not as thorough a scan as malwarebytes. Both are superior to the removal capabilities that are part any antispyware package that I have used.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I put AVG and Malwarebytes and Spybot on my ten year old Dell, ran them every two or three days but still had bugs.
Got an iMac.

End of problem.

[for-q-clinton]

Man the linux bots are becoming worst than the macbots.

As if Linux doesn’t have security issues...sheesh. Did the poster ask for a non-Windows solution to his problem?

[Mygirlsmom]

There are ways of correcting this. Sometimes malware places a redirect entry in the host file - easily corrected by deleting it.

There's a presumption that she has a virus - that has to be determined first (see my previous post)

Techhies - there is too much "geek speak" in this thread to help the original poster, IMHO. No casual user is going to use Linux or a virtual machine, snd telling her to format her disk is not helpful at this point.

[max americana]

In a “previous” life, I was employed as a virus tech for a “well-known” ANTI VIRUS company here in L.A. for 4 years.

Malwarebytes is great, but it should be run FIRST in safe mode. Then again, I have actually witnessed MWB do absolutely NOTHING against a TLD 4 malware..the nastiest of them all.

If you want to do it properly, run MWB in safe mode. There’s a free app called GMER which will scan your system and find out what MWB cannot detect. It will literally tell you what type of Malware it is, and if it is a TLD re-director malware, then TDSSKILLER will do the job.

Then with my personal suggestion, download TDSSKILLER from Kaspersky. Probably the best kept secret out there. You can even run it in Windows mode.

The final test is to run and download OTS. MOST Malwares open up the ports even after cleaning to allow later backdoor entrances in the future. MaLware is known to do that because it’s objective is to later come back. With OTS, it will tell you if your Windows settings have been manipulated, and will fix it for you.

Sorry for confusing you. Habit of mine.

[Dacula]

I always thought that running SpyBot and AdAware on the same system was cause for trouble. You could one or the other but not both at the same time.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

You might get a really good anti-virus program, and it is totally free from Microsoft. Get “Security Essentials” and download their firewall if you don't have it.

I have Windows 7 and before that I had Vista. I have never had a problem and I go freely, to all sorts of high risk areas with no problems.

Security essentials is far superior to Norton, McKaffee, etc, and does not cost a dime to install. It is also so compatible with MS programs that it does not slow down your OS when you surf.

Any virus or Trojan that tries to latch on, get smoked in it's tracks. And I have never had one that it cannot eliminate or completely eradicate. It never uses “Quarantine” like all the lesser virus programs frequently do.

Give it a try, but first, wipe your HD to eliminate any Trojans in your registry.

[laotzu]

are you logged in?

After hearing/reading that for the 10,375th time.....it still cracks me up.

[max americana]

>FDISK, Format, and reinstall your operating system, it’s the only way to be sure.None of the suggested fixes will solve our re-direct virus.<

I disagree. I used to work for an anti-virus company as the malware and virus technician which did the ‘repairs” by remote. Probably seen the nastiest ones in 4 years, from the TLD 3 and 4 malware to the zero day malware which pops up after 6 months of dormancy.

Re-installing and rebooting is a cop out. What about the information in the hard drive? Not even a challenge to SAVE THE INFO that one took a long time to save? The hard drive info can be saved with the 8 apps and steps if done properly. You will find out if the malware was able to open the ports and change the Windows settings from default by running OTS in the very end.

[fireman15]

I agree that both Malwarebytes and Adaware are very good products for preventing malware.

Fortunately, from what you describe it doesn't sound like you have one of the more aggressive malware programs installed. There is a good chance you will be able just do a system restore back to a time before your system started malfunctioning. Just go to your Start Menu Go to Accessories and then System Tools to find System Restore. If System Restore doesn't work; you might try it from safe mode by pressing the “F8” button as you are starting up the computer and choosing to start in “Safe Mode”. Then try System Restore again.

I have been using AVG Free for years and haven't had any problems. The latest versions have many anti-malware features including warnings you when you are navigating to known problem websites.

The AVG site is a little confusing to navigate because they try to get you to download their premium products which cost money after a free trial. The following is a link to a direct Download at CNET.

http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition-2011/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

I have often set up computers to dual boot Linux; there are some advantages. Windows has many features you take for granted until you are hobbling around in Linux. An open source operating system is not any more secure than Windows, it just isn't targeted quite as much.

[stayathomemom]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. In the short time it took me to bathe and dress my mom and get her her breakfast, you have provided me with what I hope will solve my problem. Looks like it will be the middle of the afternoon before I know if I’m successful! Here goes...!

[Second Amendment First]

I have a ten year old Dell also and have cleaned it up using Advanced System Care 4. It has never performed better.

My current box is a custom job with four hard drive bays in front so I can switch operating systems and data drives.

[The Great RJ]

I had malware slip by my anti-virus turning off Microsoft updates. Microsoft tech support recommended Super Anti-spyware (free) ...it fixed the problem. http://www.superantispyware.com/

[Lando Lincoln]

I had the same problem last January. Here is where I explained the solution that worked for me. Good Luck.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2657409/posts?page=35#35

[Victor]

ping

[taxcontrol]

Another bump for Linux (Mint). Easy to install and run.

Now if you simply insist on running Windows - I have to because of my work laptop, I recommend the following order

1) Eusing registry cleaner (install then run)
2) Auslogics disk defrag (install run defrag and optimize)
3) Spybot search and distroy (install then run)
4) reboot
5) AVG antivirus (install then run. also set up to run weekly)
6) rerun spybot
7) reboot

You should be clean though there are some very nasty / persistant malware that require more effort. This will clear up 99% of the stuff that is out there.

You should run AVG all the time, scan at least weekly. Spybot should scan weekly. Run Eusing registry cleaner after spybot and then run the Auslogics defrag. I normally run mine on Friday night before I go to bed.

[TomGuy]

Better than re-formatting is getting an imaging program.

I use clonegenius (now called Data Backup Kit, http://www.spotmau.com/products/package/data_backup.html). It has bailed me out several times, and it has MY settings and installed software from the last time I ‘imaged’ my OS partition. I image every few months or after major software upgrades.

There are several ‘free for home use’ and pay version of imaging software.

[Cicero]

If you get it fixed, I would certainly recommend installing SpyBot Search and Destroy for prevention of future problems.

[USNA74]

bump