Google/Yahoo search directs to wrong sites

[tony cooper]

I know this isn't a Google or Yahoo newsgroup, but perhaps someone
here knows what's going on.

When I use Google to search for something, the results that come up
are bogus commercial sites. For example, if I Google (or Yahoo
search) the word "mules", the first hit is "Mules - Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia", but the address is glimpse.com. Click that link
and I get a business page selling shoes (mules, included). The number
2 link says it's about mules - the animal - but the link is to a
genialdeals.com site that sells mules the shoes.

Even a company name like "Microsoft" turns up hits for all commercial
referral sites. The first hit is legalzoom.com and has nothing to do
with Microsoft.

Something I've done, something Google's done, or some slick new way
that site owners have found?

 

[nass]

I know this isn't a Google or Yahoo newsgroup, but perhaps someone
here knows what's going on.

When I use Google to search for something, the results that come up
are bogus commercial sites. For example, if I Google (or Yahoo
search) the word "mules", the first hit is "Mules - Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia", but the address is glimpse.com. Click that link
and I get a business page selling shoes (mules, included). The number
2 link says it's about mules - the animal - but the link is to a
genialdeals.com site that sells mules the shoes.

Even a company name like "Microsoft" turns up hits for all commercial
referral sites. The first hit is legalzoom.com and has nothing to do
with Microsoft.

Something I've done, something Google's done, or some slick new way
that site owners have found?

It could be a BHO installed on your browser and directing your search!

Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Tabs:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
http://www.malwarebytes.org/rr-update/rr-free-setup.exe
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (offline scanner) from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Run disk clean up on your Drive.
You can download this tool o run clean up:
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds/downloading-slim
HTH,
nass

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I know this isn't a Google or Yahoo newsgroup, but perhaps someone
here knows what's going on.

When I use Google to search for something, the results that come up
are bogus commercial sites. For example, if I Google (or Yahoo
search) the word "mules", the first hit is "Mules - Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia", but the address is glimpse.com. Click that link
and I get a business page selling shoes (mules, included). The number
2 link says it's about mules - the animal - but the link is to a
genialdeals.com site that sells mules the shoes.

Even a company name like "Microsoft" turns up hits for all commercial
referral sites. The first hit is legalzoom.com and has nothing to do
with Microsoft.

Something I've done, something Google's done, or some slick new way
that site owners have found?

It's most likely malware that is redirecting your browser. What did you
install just before this happened? Any sort of file-sharing utility that
just happened to come with an extra toolbar?


HTH
-pk

 

[tony cooper]

It's most likely malware that is redirecting your browser. What did you
install just before this happened? Any sort of file-sharing utility that
just happened to come with an extra toolbar?

No. The last thing I downloaded, and the only thing between the time
I did not have problem and the time the problem started, is Adobe's
LightRoom 2 trial version.

 

[tony cooper]

I know this isn't a Google or Yahoo newsgroup, but perhaps someone
here knows what's going on.

When I use Google to search for something, the results that come up
are bogus commercial sites. For example, if I Google (or Yahoo
search) the word "mules", the first hit is "Mules - Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia", but the address is glimpse.com. Click that link
and I get a business page selling shoes (mules, included). The number
2 link says it's about mules - the animal - but the link is to a
genialdeals.com site that sells mules the shoes.

Even a company name like "Microsoft" turns up hits for all commercial
referral sites. The first hit is legalzoom.com and has nothing to do
with Microsoft.

Something I've done, something Google's done, or some slick new way
that site owners have found?

It could be a BHO installed on your browser and directing your search!

Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Tabs:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
http://www.malwarebytes.org/rr-update/rr-free-setup.exe
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (offline scanner) from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html

Run disk clean up on your Drive.
You can download this tool o run clean up:
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/builds/downloading-slim
HTH,
nass

I'm in the process of doing these steps. Thank you.

I should have mentioned that I use Firefox, not IE. The Network and
Internet Connections step seems to apply only to IE. Also, I use AVG
Anti-Virus.

 

[tony cooper]

It's most likely malware that is redirecting your browser. What did you
install just before this happened? Any sort of file-sharing utility that
just happened to come with an extra toolbar?

I think I found the problem. I've been using Firefox as a browser,
and the problems are with searching using Google through Firefox.
When I use IE as a browser, I don't have the same problem.

If I picked up something, it was through some site I visited using
Firefox and possible bookmarked. I've uninstalled Firefox and
switched back to IE.

I do prefer Firefox, so I may re-install it later. I saved my
bookmarks on a flash drive, but I won't import them into IE until I
can figure out which one came with baggage.

I'm gonna miss those bookmarks, though.

 

[Mick Murphy]

Scan your computer with Malwarebhytes, Spybot Search & destroy, and your AVG;
in Safe Mode if necessary.

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.