can't access search feature or websites

[Craig Daugherty]

Beginning yesterday I cannot perform a search function
using Internet Explorer. I'm running Windows XP Prof. w/
IE 6 and all the latest patches, etc.
When I click on the search button the search engine pane
opens after a pause with the message "Action canceled."
If I try to customize to another search engine I get the
same result.
So I decided to access the search engines directly by
typing in their URL's into IE. Amazingly I cannot connect
with any of them, Google, Lycos, Altavista, etc. When I
type in the address and hit return I get the generic
message that the site is not available.
The other computers on my office network are working fine.
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Dave]

HELP!!! I am having the same problems, all of a sudden
right out of nowhere, search engines do not work.

 

[Craig Daugherty]

Let me know if you find out anything. I'll do the same.
Craig

 

[Dave]

-----Original Message-----
No answer but my computer is having the exact same
problem. I am running Windows XP Home with IE 6 and all
the latest patches. I cannot access any of the search
engines.
Any help would be appreciated.

.

******************UPDATE*****************************
Just downloaded all the updates for IE 6 from Microsoft.
Now when trying to access the search engine pages I get a
notice from Apache Web Server, something about new server
software. I still cannot access the search engines, but
it does look like there is a compatability problem with
this Apache software and IE 6.

 

[Craig Daugherty]

I kept trying to get into search websites. Finally when
trying google.com I got a two page message explaining
that my browser was being misdirected away from google,
probably by a spybot program. The message gave directions
about how to fix it. If you will email me a fax number
I'll fax the message to you.
Craig

 

[Dominique Brule]

Yeah, going to google now directs you to the repair
procedure. I will try it right after softball tonight.
Did you get everthing to work after you did this?

 

[David Kusumoto]

"Andrew Kreicher" <[email protected]> addressed
this problem on these boards and the solution works
marvelously:

Use the program here:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip

At first I was afraid, but I went to the original address
and it's to a spyware eliminator site; you're not going
crazy, your computer was hijacked. Extract the file and
then execute it -- it's a great solution that would
otherwise never be found without enormous aggravations.

David in San Diego

 

[trisha]

I copied this solution from someone that was having a
similar problem. I was able to fix my search problem by
following this solution. I had a lot of line in the host
file. I deleted them and now I can search again.
Trisha


More: Where a removal program is available.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html
Direct Download: If the site is not available.
http://216.180.252.218/~spywareinfo.com/downloads/tools/cws
hredder.zip
--

Henri Leboeuf
Web page: http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/index.htm


I am having the same problem as Dennis and Chester. I
cannot do searches on google, yahoo, msn, askjeeves. when
I try to do a search I get the text message below, and the
instructions don't help solve the problem:


Are you trying to get to Google?
Your computer is running software that doesn't allow you
to use Google.
You're seeing this page because your computer is trying to
send you to a website that is pretending to be Google.
Over the past few weeks, you may have seen a website that
looks like Google, but launches pop-up windows and does
not work like Google. That page is not affiliated with
Google in any way and is intended to deceive you.

Why is this happening?
Most likely a program was installed on your computer
automatically and without your knowledge when you
downloaded an otherwise harmless piece of software. Or you
may have been tricked into clicking on a disguised
download button while visiting a website.

What can I do about it?
This problem can be fixed fairly easily, but will require
that you make changes in a file that is part of your
computer's operating system. You should always be cautious
when making these kinds of adjustments, as they may affect
the performance of your computer. If you are not
comfortable doing this yourself, you may want to print out
this page and show it to someone whose technical knowledge
you trust.

What steps do I take?
The first step is to remove the entry for Google from your
hosts file. This entry is telling your computer where to
send your computer instead of to Google.

In Windows, open the Notepad program. You can do this by
going to the Start menu in the lower left of your screen,
selecting "Programs," then "Accessories,"
then "Notepad."

In the Notepad menu, click on "File," then "Open." You
will see a new window asking which file to open. You may
need to change "Files of type" to "All Files" instead
of "Text Documents". The actual file to open is listed
below:

If your computer is running Windows XP, Window NT, or
Windows 2000, the file is located in the folder found by
following this path:

My Computer >Local Disk(C) >Windows >System32 >Drivers

etc >hosts

If your computer is running Windows 98, Second Edition or
Windows ME, the file is located in the folder found by
following this path:

My Computer >Local Disk(C) >Windows >hosts

Once you have opened this file, remove entirely any line
of text that contains "google.com", "www.google.com" or
other Google domains (such as "google.co.uk"). To remove
the text, highlight it by dragging your pointer across the
line while holding down the mouse button. Once the text is
highlighted, hit the Backspace or Delete button, then
save the file by going to the File menu and
clicking "Save." You can now exit Notepad.

What else can I do?
You might want to try software that attempts to detect and
uninstall programs like this one. While we do not have a
relationship with anyone who offers this software and we
cannot endorse a particular product, the most popular
programs for doing this seem to be Spybot Search and
Destroy and LavaSoft's AdAware. The particular program
affecting your computer is relatively new, so these
products might not be able to detect and repair this type
of problem yet.

The next step is to learn more. You can visit
http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/ to review information
about a number of known self-installing software programs.
Several articles on the web may be helpful, such as

·
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/04/14/1050172507212.
html
· http://news.com.com/2100-1023-877568.html
· http://news.com.com/2100-1023-257592.html

Investigate individual programs using search engines. Try
keywords such as "spyware," "scumware," and "adware."
Once you're informed, take action. Help your family and
friends avoid these annoying programs. If you can find the
site that installed this software on your computer, let
them know how you feel about it. You might also want to
track down companies that benefit from having your web
visits redirected, and share your feelings with them.

Finally, it's quick and easy to file a complaint with the
Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This U.S. government
agency handles complaints about deceptive or unfair
business practices. To file a complaint, visit:
http://www.ftc.gov/ and click on "File a Complaint
Online", or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. Or write to:

Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
Washington, D.C. 20580

If your complaint is against a company in another country,
you can file it at http://www.econsumer.gov/.



Blake Miller

..

 

[Tara]

I am having the same problem. However, i didn't get any
kind of directions when trying to access google. just the
usual "page can't be displayed" message i see during ANY
kind of search. So do you mean there's a malicious program
causing this, or that the program Spybot is causing it?
Cause i do have Spybot installed on my computer, but i've
had it for a while and this just started yesturday.
(geeze, i thought spybot was suppose to protect you, not
cause harm!!!) I don't have access to a fax. Is there
anyway you can email the directions to me? I'd REALLY
appreciate it! (e-mail address removed)

Tara

 

[medgirl]

I am having the same problem. However, i didn't get any
kind of directions when trying to access google. just the
usual "page can't be displayed" message i see during ANY
kind of search. So do you mean there's a malicious program
causing this, or that the program Spybot is causing it?
Cause i do have Spybot installed on my computer, but i've
had it for a while and this just started yesturday.
(geeze, i thought spybot was suppose to protect you, not
cause harm!!!) I don't have access to a fax. Is there
anyway you can email the directions to me? I'd REALLY
appreciate it! (e-mail address removed)

See the other responses in this thread for a fix.

Spybot Search and Destroy is not a spybot - it finds spybots and gets rid of
them. Most of the time - it couldn't fix the search engine problem for me.

m