Can't view search engines

[mike jones]

My sister downloaded Smiley Central. I dont know if this
had anything to do with it, but since then I can't view
certain sites. So far all i have noticed is yahoo.com
and ask.com. Both sites bring up the same site that say
that this URL no longer exists. Anyone kno a fix?

 

[Martin C]

You have probably been hijacked. Check out the following to get rid of your
problem.

Get this file:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/RestoreSearch2.REG
After downloading it, right click it and choose Merge.

Download/run Cool Web Shredder from
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html

Download/install/run Ad-Aware from
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
This will detect any spyware on your system. When you run Ad-Aware, click on
the ref update to get the latest up-to-date ref file, run Ad-Aware and
delete everything it finds.

You can also download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy from
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Sometimes this will find problems that are not found in Ad Aware.
This program has two entries to it (Easy and Advanced). Unless you know what
you are doing, run it in Easy mode and also select Immunize after it is run.
Make sure you read the help on this first.

Sometimes, this article helps.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=320159&product=ie

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/
Be very careful with this program though. Do not remove anything that is
referenced by it until you get advice on what to remove as it will list some
good items as well as bad ones.
See http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick and read the quick start on how to
create a log file that can be sent to a forum that can provide assistance on
removal of unwanted problems.
Post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

There are many Forums that offer Free "Hijack This" log review.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/security,1
http://www.computercops.biz/forums.html
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/index.php
http://boards.cexx.org/
http://forums.net-integration.net/
http://forum.aumha.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com

Take your pick - they all offer excellent support -

At the very least you should have Ad Aware present on your machine and run
it periodically.

Hope this helps,

Martin