can't search at any search engine.

[Greg]

Please help,

I am having a problem with internet explorer 6.0. I can
browse the internet, i can go to any url except all search
engines. I can't go to google.com, altavista.com,
search.msn.com. None of these pages will open. Please
help.

 

[jen]

greg, i am having the same problems. if i find an
answer, i'll post here. let me know if you find a
solution
-jen

 

[McK]

OK all....same problem here..can't get any searchs done -
can get some using the search toolbar but is so limited -
cannot get to google and I had this problem last
night...went to work and accessed it fine...then back home
tonight and cannot get it. The difference between work
and home is here I have Win ME? Please let me know if you
find a solution .. we have to find something..
I can't believe how great an engine google is compared to
some of these other ones!!
Thanks,
McK

 

[greg]

Jen, I just did this and it works after you reboot. let
me know what happens. Very easy to do.
I was unable to use my search icon, or use google search
and other search engines. I realized I had gotten a
Trojan.
To fix.

1. Open up Notepad.
2. Click File, then open.
3. Click My computer, Local Drive C.
4. Click on Windows folder, then on Help folder.
5. Change file type to "All Files".
6. Then open up the "hosts" File.

When you open it up, you will see a list of IP's and web
adress,,,like google, altvista, aj, etc.
This is telling your browser to avoid them.
So, delete all the lines (the only one you would keep if
listed is 127.0.0.1)
After there all deleted, just save the file.
This will fix the problem.

It is an advertisment scam to make you use other search
engines! It suxs, took me a while to fiqure out what the
problem was, I un-installed explore a few times, and did
a system restore. When that didn't work, I checked
message boards, and this was the fix, and it worked.
Good luck
..

 

[McK]

Look below..

Subject: Can't access sites
From: "tnazz" <[email protected]> Sent: 10/6/2003
7:34:43 PM




QHOST virus. Overwrites the HOSTS file to point to a non-
existant web site (at least it no longer exists as of last
week). Check Symantec or McAfee for info on how to clean
up the infection. If you can't reach the site, find the
HOSTS file, delete everything after 127.0.0.1 LOCALHOST
then try getting to the site.

Tom

 

[Mike Burgess]

Greg,
Trojan Qhosts hijacks the HOSTS file, however unlike normal redirectors,
this one hides the HOSTS file in the "Windows\Help" folder. It then
creates entries that redirects *all* major search engines to a website.
Note: this website has now been removed, thus the DNS errors.
[more info]
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm (bottom of page)

Microsoft has released a cumulative patch for this vulnerability:
Simply go to Windows Update [hotfix 828750]
[more info]
http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-040.asp


[manual removal method]
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.qhosts.html

You can detect "Qhosts" via a new beta version of HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/beta/hijackthis.zip
[more info]
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=12127

For instruction on using HijackThis!
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
_______________________________________
Mike Burgess http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 9-30-03]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid

 

[Joe]

Greg....You da' man!!!!! I've been struggling with this
problems for a week now. MS has been utterly useless
(except for providing access to these postings!). HP has
been useless. Your solution below worked perfectly, and
your instructions were marvelous. FYI...I found
my "hosts" file under the Windows root directory, not
under the Help folder. But other than that, the
instructions were perfect. Thanks!