Google being redirected [Archive]

Dee

11-01-2009, 03:51 PM

I find that lately whenever I click a link from a Google results page I am sent to some other site that usually tries the "Panic! Your computer is infected and you MUST download our software to repair it" ****. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware usually is good about fixing these things or else Spyware Terminator, but neither seems to be solving the problem in this case and it's driving me nuts.

Thanks if you can help.

Amy in Vermont

11-01-2009, 06:59 PM

Dee:

Try downloading a program called HiJack This. Run a scan and sens me the log file. I'll tell you what things to remove.

Also download and run SpyBot Search and Destroy and fix everything it tells you to fix.

Dee

11-02-2009, 02:34 PM

Did a full scan with Search & Destroy. It identified "FastBrowserSearchToolbar" (2 entries) so I zapped them, but I'm still getting page redirects in Google. Most bizarre.

Just sent you the HijackThis log file.

Thanks for checking.

Elliott

11-03-2009, 08:12 PM

that is exactly what happened to me with a sad ending. I had to reset my PC as out of the box and lost all my music, downloaded files, pictures etc.... Why? I never backed anything up. So now I just use laptops and Dr. Joan.

Dee

11-04-2009, 08:48 AM

Well I thought of doing that too, but it's such a pain. I will hold out hope that someone comes out with a repair to the problem. It seems quite wide-spread from what I've been reading.

DaveM

11-05-2009, 02:38 PM

Dee--have you tried using another search engine to find a possible solution? Or gone directly to the Norton or McAfee web sites? Since I don't know the name of the "bug" that is causing your problem (though it certainly sounds as if you have one) I can't really advise, but both have been known to offer free repair tools for specific viruses that are not caught by scanners.

Dee

11-06-2009, 02:59 PM

Oddly enough, if I try the same Google link a few times it eventually does go to the correct site. It’s the same thing in BING and Yahoo search engines. From what I've gathered so far it seems this little gem came from somewhere on Facebook. Unfortunately there seems to be no remedy for it yet. If I ever find these nitwits who have nothing better to do with their time than make a nuisance of themselves, I swear
I'll slap the stupid right off 'em! :mad:

Mary6906

11-06-2009, 11:24 PM

Oh, I like it when you are all forceful like that, Dee! ;)

Darlene

11-06-2009, 11:28 PM

Dee I have had the same problem the same message the same urgency that your computer is being overtaken by... and please down this program to take care of the problem. I had this problem before I started facebook and I have noticed that the physical address for the software is in Lenoir City about 30 miles away from me. I don't know why but is has gone away for now and I hope for the future too. It is hard not to download the program because it has an urgency that is difficult to ignore.

Good Luck Dee,
Darlene

Dee

11-08-2009, 06:27 PM

Well after many, many, many hours of frustration I have finally tracked down the culprit. It's a Trojan called Win32/Alureon.gen!U and unfortunately no one seems to have a way to get rid of it. *sigh* SO . . . I will take a deep breath and wipe out my O/S hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch.

paularoid

11-09-2009, 11:25 AM

Well after many, many, many hours of frustration I have finally tracked down the culprit. It's a Trojan called Win32/Alureon.gen!U and unfortunately no one seems to have a way to get rid of it. *sigh* SO . . . I will take a deep breath and wipe out my O/S hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch.
Instead of wiping out your hard drive look here instead:

http://www.microsoft.com/Security/portal/Threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Trojan%3AWin32%2FAlureon.gen!U

Then go all the way to the bottom of the page and read under "Recovery". According to what it says there I'm assuming that you do NOT have to wipe out your hard drive and start from scratch.

Dee

11-09-2009, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the info, Paularoid. I actually did have the suggested products and Windows Defender took out not one but two Trojans this morning. :eek: I decided to wipe out the drive and reinstall XP anyway, just to clear out any residual nasties that might be lurking in dark corners.

paularoid

11-10-2009, 01:46 PM

Thanks for the info, Paularoid. I actually did have the suggested products and Windows Defender took out not one but two Trojans this morning. :eek: I decided to wipe out the drive and reinstall XP anyway, just to clear out any residual nasties that might be lurking in dark corners.
In that case I suggest you get, install, and use a firewall so this doesn't happen again. I do NOT suggest the built-in Windoze firewall because it's not very effective. There are a lot of freebies out there that do a fine job where the Windon't version severely lacks.