IE degrading

[Guest]

Since a few days I have IE slowly degrading after a few hours. First it
starts to react slowly when I jump to a link, later it refuses completely to
jump to a link when I try to open the link with a right click "Open in new
window". Then the PC freezes now and then for 10 or 20 seconds when I try to
access the internet, or even some of my files (even with wordpad). Then
instead of jumping to a link at all, the "revolving world" icon in the right
top corner starts revolving at the center of the menu bar, while the menu
disappears. I first feared a virus or something. All the available "malicious
software removal tools" did not find anything, up to the february version of
it. My virus scanner has always been active... Any suggestion ?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Since a few days I have IE slowly degrading after a few hours. First it
starts to react slowly when I jump to a link, later it refuses completely
to
jump to a link when I try to open the link with a right click "Open in new
window". Then the PC freezes now and then for 10 or 20 seconds when I try
to
access the internet, or even some of my files (even with wordpad). Then
instead of jumping to a link at all, the "revolving world" icon in the
right
top corner starts revolving at the center of the menu bar, while the menu
disappears. I first feared a virus or something. All the available
"malicious
software removal tools" did not find anything, up to the february version
of
it. My virus scanner has always been active... Any suggestion ?

It's probably a malware infection. Help with malware:
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing Messenger Plus, whose ads for
malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince you that you
owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.