Google won't load

[JDiddy]

A couple websites won't load proper: google will load the front page
but hangs when preforming a search; yahoo won't load at all; myspac
won't load at all; and couple other sites are spotty (e.g. CNN'
political ticker won't load, but other sections do fine). I'm usin
firefox. IE is having similar problems. I'm getting a few random po
ups throughout the day (worse when I'm using IE).

I loaded spybot. When I do a full scan, it will find 10-30 problems.
After I fix them, google will run for 1-2 searches and stop workin
again. Within 10 min, spybot will find 3-5 new problems. Within a fe
hours, it finds 10-30 problems.

My antivirus is symantec (free from school).

Has anyone heard of this before? Sounds like a virus, spy/add/malwar
to me, but I'm an amateur and haven't been able to fix the problem.

Thanks

 

[Malke]

A couple websites won't load proper: google will load the front page,
but hangs when preforming a search; yahoo won't load at all; myspace
won't load at all; and couple other sites are spotty (e.g. CNN's
political ticker won't load, but other sections do fine). I'm using
firefox. IE is having similar problems. I'm getting a few random pop
ups throughout the day (worse when I'm using IE).

I loaded spybot. When I do a full scan, it will find 10-30 problems.
After I fix them, google will run for 1-2 searches and stop working
again. Within 10 min, spybot will find 3-5 new problems. Within a few
hours, it finds 10-30 problems.

My antivirus is symantec (free from school).

Has anyone heard of this before? Sounds like a virus, spy/add/malware
to me, but I'm an amateur and haven't been able to fix the problem.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

You can also check to see if there are targeted removal steps for your
malware here:
Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. You will
generally be asked to:

1. Download and execute HiJack This! (HJT) -
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/HJTInstall.exe

2. Disable Notepad's word wrap - In Notepad.exe; Format --> uncheck; "Word
wrap"

3. Download/run Deckard's System Scanner -
http://www.techsupportforum.com/sectools/Deckard/dss.exe

4. Save the scan results (Main.txt and Extra.txt)

5. And then post the contents of Main.txt and Extra.txt in your post at the
forum you chose. DO NOT POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself
(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent
of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops
are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be
so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke